11:03 AM EST, 02/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were sharply higher late Tuesday morning, rising 1.18% to 1,408.93 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) and Ascendis Pharma ( ASND ) , which rose 5.4% and 4.9%, respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Grifols ( GRFS ) and financial services company Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria ( BBVA ) , which increased 2.9% and 2.7%, respectively.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by biopharmaceutical company Genfit (GNFT) and medical device maker EDAP TMS (EDAP), which fell 4.5% and 4.2%, respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company DBV Technologies (DBVT) and petroleum refiner Equinor (EQNR), which were down 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively.

From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company Adaptimmune Therapeutics ( ADAP ) and financial services company Barclays ( JJCTF ) , which advanced 5.3% and 4.3%, respectively. They were followed by pharmaceutical company Silence Therapeutics ( SLN ) and financial services company HSBC ( HSBC ) , which were up 4.2% and 3.3%, respectively.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biopharmaceutical company Akari Therapeutics ( AKTX ) and hospitality company InterContinental Hotels Group ( IHG ) , which dropped 2.8% and 2.3%, respectively. They were followed by software firm Endava ( DAVA ) and biopharmaceutical company Verona Pharma ( VRNA ) , which lost 2.1% and 2%, respectively.