International stocks trading in New York closed higher on Thursday. The BNY Mellon index of American depositary receipts rose 2.1% to 140.74. The European index increased 2.3% to 139.85, the Asian index improved 1.5% to 141.90, the Latin American index rose 2.3% to 227.15 and the emerging markets index increased 2.2% to 261.95. Among the companies with shares that actively traded was ABB Ltd. (ABB, ABBN.VX, ABB.SK).

ABB Ltd. (ABB, ABBN.VX, ABB.SK) said Thursday it was proposing the former chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell PLC as its next chairman, a move that comes as the power and technology giant embarks on a new five-year strategy. Shares rose 1.8% to $21.22.

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) said Thursday it is selling its retail, commercial fuels and supply and distribution logistics businesses in Norway to ST1 for an undisclosed sum. Separately, BASF SE (BASFY, BAS.XE) said it is selling its 50% stake in a Singapore chemicals joint venture, ELLBA Eastern, to Shell. The deals come as the oil major tries to emphasize downstream projects using cheap natural gas while getting out of businesses with less profit potential. Shell shares rose 1.3% to $66.54.

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

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