ADR Shares End Higher; Alcatel-Lucent Rises

International stocks trading in New York closed higher Tuesday.

The BNY Mellon index of American depositary receipts rose 1% to 147.78. The European index increased 1.1% to 144.82, the Asian index edged up 0.8% to 156.72, the Latin American index rose 1.3% to 223.36 and the emerging markets index increased 0.7% to 272.83. Nokia Corp. (NOK, NOK1V.HE) and Alcatel-Lucent (ALU, ALU.FR) were among the companies with ADRs that traded actively.

Nokia is close to buying French rival Alcatel-Lucent in a deal aimed at creating a European telecommunications-equipment behemoth that could spur a new wave of consolidation. The two companies said Tuesday that they are in advanced talks over a "full combination" of their businesses in which Nokia would offer a share exchange for control of Alcatel-Lucent. The deal--while not yet sealed--is expected be announced as early as this week, The Wall Street Journal reported. Alcatel-Lucent ADRs rose 13% to $4.93 and Nokia ADRs fell 4.1% to $7.96.

HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC, HSBA.LN, 0005.HK) has begun hunting for new nonexecutive directors as part of a shake-up of its board, The Wall Street Journal reported. The bank has hired MWM Consulting to find nonexecutive directors to replace long-standing board members, according to the Journal. ADRs rose 37 cents to $45.64.

ADRs of Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR3.BR, PETR4.BR) rose 2.8% to $8.22 after the Brazilian state-controlled oil giant said late Monday that it plans to release its 2014 audited earnings April 22. Petrobras has delayed the release of its earnings in the wake of accusations that it overpaid for work by contractors and that the excess funds were funneled to former executives and political parties.

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