11:14 AM EDT, 03/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were trending higher Thursday morning, rising 0.56% to 1,371.10 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company argenx (ARGX) and pharmaceutical firm Ascendis Pharma ( ASND ) , which rose 12% and 2.5%, respectively. Financial services company Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria ( BBVA ) and 3D printer company Materialise (MTLS), which increased 1.9% and 1.8%, respectively.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by biotech firm Biophytis ( BPTS ) , which retreated 12%, while telecommunications company VEON (VEON) lost 2.9%. They were followed by kidney dialysis company Fresenius Medical Care ( FMS ) , which retreated 2.3% and 3D printer company voxeljet (VJET), which retreated 1.8%.

From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company Biodexa Pharmaceuticals ( BDRX ) and education company Pearson (PSO), which added 2.9% and 2.3%, respectively. They were followed by insurance firm Prudential (PUK) and financial services company Lloyds Banking Group ( LYG ) , which were up 2% each.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biopharmaceutical companies TC Biopharm ( TCBP ) and NuCana ( NCNA ) , which dropped 3.9% and 2.9%, respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical firm Mereo BioPharma Group ( MREO ) , which declined 1.8% and biotech firm Autolus Therapeutics ( AUTL ) , which lost 1.3%.