ADRs End Mostly Higher; Nice Systems Rises

International stocks trading in New York closed mostly higher on Wednesday.

Nice Systems Ltd. (NICE, NICE.TV) was among the companies with ADRs that traded actively.

The BNY Mellon index of American depositary receipts edged up 0.08% to 121.62. The European index increased 0.3% to 120.34; the Asian index rose 0.2% to 128.50; the Latin American index fell 2.2% to 171.76; and the emerging markets index declined 0.9% to 222.95.

Business software provider Nice Systems said it agreed to acquire cloud contact software maker inContact Inc. (SAAS) for about $870.7 million in cash. Nice Systems ADRs rose 4.3% to $66.56.

ARM Holdings PLC (ARMH, ARM.LN), the U.K.-based tech firm that designs most of the world's smartphone chips, said Wednesday that it completed a $350 million acquisition of computer-vision company Apical Ltd. The move is a bet that ARM can further its goal of getting its technology into new markets such as automobiles, robots and everyday household items. Apical develops camera technology that lets electronic devices learn from their environments. For example, its technology can help a security camera distinguish between a human and cat. ADRs rose 2.9% to $41.06.

Diageo PLC (DEO, DGE.LN) has named the former chief executive of Bacardi Ltd., Javier Ferran, to be its chairman starting next year, replacing retiring Franz Humer. His appointment comes as Diageo battles slumping sales in the U.S., its largest market, and like many other multinational companies with operations in emerging markets, grapples with the effect of volatile currencies. ADRs rose 12 cents to $107.46.

Nokia Corp. (NOK, NOKIA.HE), the Finnish company that once dominated the cellphone industry, will again put its badge on mobile handsets. The company, which has refashioned itself into a maker of wireless and Internet network equipment, won't make or sell cellphones and tablets directly. Rather, Nokia said Wednesday that it has entered a series of licensing pacts with Finnish and Asian partners. ADRs rose 2% to $5.21.

Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR3.BR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, raised a total $6.75 billion from an overseas bond issue, but it was obligated to pay a high yield to investors, due to its elevated debt. ADRs fell 4.8% to $6.75.

ADRs of Vipshop Holdings Ltd. (VIPS) fell 12% to $10.81 after the Chinese online discounter reported first-quarter revenue that missed analysts' expectations and the company issued a lackluster outlook for the second quarter.

Write to Tess Stynes at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 18, 2016 18:13 ET (22:13 GMT)

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