Yum! Shares Rise 3% as OTR Sees Solid Improvements in Transactions in May, an Uptick in Comps at KFC China

Traders in Yum!

are attributing upside in the stock Thursday morning to some bullish comments coming out of research firm OTR Global. The stock last traded at $70.17, up more than 3 percent from Wednesday's close. The firm highlighted year-over-year transactions in May were "significantly" better than in April and diminishing fears related to avian flu in China. OTR also pointed to a pick up in same-store sales during the second half of May at KFC China.