ADR Shares End Lower; Shell, Shire Shares Active

International companies trading in New York closed lower Friday, with the Bank of New York index of American depositary receipts falling 0.3% to 150.58. The European index dropped 0.4% to 149.78, the Asian index slipped 0.2% to 146.68, the Latin American index decreased 0.3% to 269.22 and the emerging markets index declined 0.5% to 267.95. Among companies with shares that actively traded were Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB, RDSB.LN) and Shire PLC (SHPG, SHP.LN).

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell said its fourth-quarter profits will be significantly weaker than recent levels due to higher exploration costs, lower upstream volumes and weaker industry conditions in downstream oil products. Shares slipped 1.8% to $74.08.

Shire is drawing a line under its unsuccessful foray into the wound-care business by disposing of unprofitable skin product Dermagraft. The Dublin-based biopharmaceutical group will book a $650 million loss associated with the divestment of Dermagraft to U.S. group Organogenesis Inc. Shire shares rose 1.4% to $148.48.

Brazilian state-run energy company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR3.BR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, said Friday that it would offer voluntary buyouts to some workers as it attempts to boost productivity and cut costs while spending heavily to develop offshore oil fields. Shares slipped 0.5% to $12.48.

Write to Anna Prior at [e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires