European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were tracking sharply higher late Thursday morning, rising 1.84% to 1,938.04 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by telecommunications company Nokia (NOK) and lender ING Group (ING), which advanced 9.8% and 7% respectively. They were followed by lenders Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Banco Santander (SAN), which climbed 6.8% and 4.6% respectively.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by pharmaceutical company Sanofi (SNY) and software firm SAP (SAP), which lost 6.2% and 2.8% respectively. They were followed by internet ad firm Criteo (CRTO) and biopharmaceutical company argenx (ARGX), which dropped 2.5% and 1.8% respectively.

The gainers from the UK were led by lenders Barclays (BCS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LYG), which rose 5.6% and 5.4% respectively. They were followed by insurance firm Prudential (PUK) and biopharmaceutical company Mereo BioPharma Group (MREO), which were up 4.8% and 1.6% respectively.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by software firm Endava (DAVA) and communications company WPP (WPP), which fell 6.4% and 5.8% respectively. They were followed by biotech firm Trinity Biotech (TRIB) and biopharmaceutical company Akari Therapeutics (AKTX), which were down 4.4% and 2.9% respectively.