International stocks trading in New York closed lower on
Thursday, with the Bank of New York index of American depositary
receipts slipping 0.5% to 151.53. The European index dropped 0.3%
to 151.50, the Asian index declined 0.8% to 143.19, the Latin
American index fell 1.5% to 281.23 and the emerging-markets index
fell 1.2% to 274.87. Among the companies with shares that actively
traded was Vodafone Group PLC (VOD, VOD.LN).
Vodafone said Thursday that its U.K. division would invest GBP1
billion ($1.66 billion) in networks and services this year,
creating 1,400 jobs in the country as it opens 150 new stores.
Shares declined 1.3% to $36.26.
Swiss drug maker Novartis AG (NVS, NOVN.VX) shuffled its top
management in Japan and froze funding to doctor-led clinical trials
in the country, in an effort to redeem a reputation tarnished by
admissions of misconduct in its second-largest market. Shares
slipped 1.4% to $83.41.
Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYAAY, RYA.LN) said on Thursday that it
carried a record 81.7 million passengers in the 12 months to the
end of March, with forward bookings on the rise, though traffic was
down 4% in the month itself compared with March last year. Shares
were essentially flat at $60.09.
Brazilian phone company Oi SA (OIBR, OIBR4.BR) on Thursday said
it will price its shares as part of an offer regarding its plan to
merge with Portugal Telecom SGPS SA (PT, PTC.LB), on April 28. Oi
shares rose 1.5% to $1.38.
Credit Suisse Group AG (CS, CSGN.VX) set aside over half a
billion dollars to help cover a possible settlement with U.S.
authorities probing its alleged role in assisting tax evaders. The
Swiss lender also gave its chief executive a big raise. Shares were
essentially flat at $32.84.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires