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 (BCS), 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.