International stocks trading in New York closed higher on
Wednesday, with the Bank of New York index of American depositary
receipts rising 0.4% to 157.20. The European index added 0.4% to
153.23, the Asian index edged up 0.1% to 154.25, the Latin American
index climbed 1.9% to 317.44 and the emerging markets index rose
0.9% to 316.96. Among the companies with shares that actively
traded were Telefonica SA (TEF, TEF.MC) and Ryanair Holdings PLC
(RYAAY, RYA.DB, RYA.LN).
The board of Vivendi SA is slated to meet Thursday to discuss a
EUR6.7 billion ($8.8 billion) offer for its Brazilian unit, GVT, by
Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica, amid expectations of a
rival bid from Telecom Italia SpA (TI, TIA, TIT.MI). Telefonica
shares edged up 0.6% to $15.98, while Telecom Italia shares climbed
4.1% to $11.35.
Ryanair will make a nonbinding offer for a stake in Cyprus
Airways on Friday as Europe's biggest budget airline explores
growth options. Shares rose 4% to $55.44.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) said Wednesday it had
agreed to sell some of the oil blocks in Nigeria previously
earmarked for disposal as the Anglo-Dutch oil group moves forward
with its divestment program. Shares added 0.6% to $80.74.
The U.K. financial regulator has fined Royal Bank of Scotland
Group PLC (RBS, RBS.LN) GBP14.47 million ($24 million) for "serious
failings" related to the mortgage advice it gave customers,
prompting the bank to write to thousands of borrowers to allow them
to raise concerns. Shares edged up 0.7% to $12.14.
Shares of Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR3.BR, PETR4.BR), or
Petrobras, rose after a strong showing by the opposition in
Brazil's first televised presidential debate. Investors in
Petrobras are keen for a change in leadership in Brazil, whose
government they consider overly interventionist. Shares climbed
5.4% to $19.21.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com