International stocks trading in New York closed higher on Thursday. The Bank of New York index of American depositary receipts rose 0.46% to 153.77. The European index increased 0.5% to 149.73, the Asian index improved 0.46% to 153.63, the Latin American index rose 0.19% to 296.04 and the emerging-markets index increased 0.62% to 304.47. Among the companies with shares that actively traded was Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL, GOLL4.BR).

Brazilian budget airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL, GOLL4.BR) said it reduced its quarterly net loss as the World Cup bolstered revenue. Shares rose 1.7% to $5.84.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) said it is selling its gas assets in Louisiana and Wyoming in two separate deals for $2.1 billion in cash and added acreage in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays in Pennsylvania. Shares rose 32 cents to $79.33.

Telecom Italia SpA (TI, TIT.MI) confirmed it is considering making an offer to Vivendi SA (VIVEF, VIVHY, VIV.FR) to merge its Brazilian telecom unit TIM Participacoes SA (TSU, TIMP3.BR) with the French company's GVT SA unit. The company said no offer has been finalized or made. It made the disclosure in a regulatory filing in response to Brazilian stock exchange requests for clarification following media reports that Telecom Italia was interested in acquiring GVT. Telecom Italia shares fell five cents to $10.80. TIM Participacoes rose four cents to $24.04.

Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com

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