11:11 AM EDT, 08/01/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Bank stocks were leading European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts sharply lower late Thursday morning, tumbling 1.9% to 1,412.71 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by internet ad agency Criteo ( CRTO ) and biopharmaceutical company Genfit ( GNFT ) , which rose 6.3% and 4.5% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Grifols ( GRFS ) and pharmaceutical company Ascendis Pharma ( ASND ) , which increased 2.4% and 2.5% respectively.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by biotech firm BioNTech (BNTX) and financial services company Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria ( BBVA ) , which lost 6.4% and 5.4% respectively. They were followed by financial services companies Banco Santander (SAN) and ING (ING), which fell 5.3% and 5.2% respectively.

From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by medical device maker Smith & Nephew ( SNN ) and biopharmaceutical company Akari Therapeutics ( AKTX ) , which climbed 6% and 3.8% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Bicycle Therapeutics ( BCYC ) and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca ( AZN ) , which were up 3% and 1% respectively.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by financial services company HSBC ( HSBC ) and biopharmaceutical company TC Biopharm ( TCBP ) , which dropped 6.5% and 5.5% respectively. They were followed by insurance firm Prudential (PUK) and financial services company Barclays ( JJCTF ) , which were down 4.9% and 4.5% respectively.