11:20 AM EDT, 09/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were edging lower late Wednesday morning, declining 0.18% to 1,435.51 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company argenx (ARGX) and telecommunications operator Telefonica ( TEF ) , which rose 1.2% and 0.9% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Calliditas Therapeutics ( CALT ) and financial services company Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria ( BBVA ) , which were up 0.7% and 0.4% respectively.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by biotech firm BioNTech (BNTX) and telecommunications operator VEON (VEON), which fell 4.4% and 2.9% respectively. They were followed by semiconductor company Sequans Communications ( SQNS ) and biopharmaceutical company DBV Technologies ( DBVT ) , which were down 2.3% and 1.6% respectively.

From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company Mereo BioPharma Group ( MREO ) and biotech firm Autolus Therapeutics ( AUTL ) , which advanced 8.1% and 2.6% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Akari Therapeutics ( AKTX ) and cruise line operator Carnival (CUK), which increased 2.7% and 2.1% respectively.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biopharmaceutical companies TC Biopharm ( TCBP ) and NuCana ( NCNA ) , which dropped 4.7% and 1.9% respectively. They were followed by software firm Endava ( DAVA ) and biopharmaceutical company Biodexa Pharmaceuticals ( BDRX ) , which lost 3.4% and 1.2% respectively.