European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were sharply lower late Wednesday morning, declining 0.7% to 1,395.40 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company argenx (ARGX) and pharmaceutical company Sanofi (SNY), which each increased about 2%. They were followed by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NVO) and consumer goods company Unilever (UL), which were up 1.7% and 0.3% respectively.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by financial services companies Banco Santander (SAN) and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), which fell 4.4% and 2.6% respectively. They were followed by internet browser company Opera (OPRA), which dropped 3.3%, and 3D printer company Materialise (MTLS) down 2.3%.

From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by biopharmaceutical company NuCana (NCNA), which rose 6.3%, and medical device maker Smith & Nephew (SNN), up 4%. They were followed by pharmaceutical company GSK (GSK),which rose 2.3%, and biopharmaceutical company Adaptimmune Therapeutics (ADAP) up 1.3%.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biotech firm Trinity Biotech (TRIB) and insurance company Prudential (PUK), which lost 4.4% and 3.9% respectively. They were followed by financial services company HSBC (HSBC), which fell 3.2%, and cruise line operator Carnival (CUK), down 2.4%.