International stocks trading in New York closed higher on Thursday.

The S&P/BNY Mellon index of American depositary receipts rose 1.5% to 160.58. The European index improved 0.8% to 142.21. The Asian index rose 2.7% to 216.04. The Latin American index gained 0.03% to 185.63. And the emerging-markets index rose 3% to 358.21.

Chinese technology companies were among those whose ADRs traded actively.

Chinese technology stocks surged Thursday, as investor sentiment was buoyed by signs that relations between the U.S. and China would improve, Barron's reported. The U.S. and China have agreed their presidents will meet before the end of the year. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. rose 8% to $156; Didi Global Inc. rose 3.3% to $7.83; and Baidu Inc. rose 4.8% to $156.55.

The U.K. markets regulator said Thursday that it was closing its investigation into British Airways--part of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA--and Ryanair Holdings PLC over customer refunds related to Covid-19. The Competitions and Markets Authority said its investigation concluded that the law didn't provide passengers with a sufficiently clear right to a refund under the special circumstances brought about by the pandemic to justify continuing with the case. "Consumer protection law sets out that passengers are entitled to refunds when an airline cancels a flight, because the firm cannot provide its contracted services. However, it does not clearly cover whether people should be refunded when their flight goes ahead but they are legally prohibited from taking it," the CMA said. Ryanair's ADRs rose 3% to $115.06; while IAG, whose sponsored ADRs trade in New York over the counter, closed down 2% at $4.82.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-07-21 1821ET