By Anna Prior International companies trading in New York closed higher Friday, after better-than-expected July jobs data in the U.S. boosted sentiment, while financial stocks rebounded from Thursday's sharp selloff in the wake of disappointment with the European Central Bank. The Bank of New York index of ADRs closed 3.1% higher at 121.83 after U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by a seasonally adjusted 163,000 in July, topping economists' expectations for the addition of 95,000 positions. The European index rose 3.5% to 113.92, helped by a rebound in financial stocks that corrected some of Thursday's selloff. With nearly every bank posting a gain, France's Societe Generale S.A. (SCGLY, GLE.FR) led the charge, surging 13% to $4.51. Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA, BBVA.MC) rose 11% to $6.72, while Germany's Deutsche Bank AG (DB, DBK.XE) jumped 10% to $31.20, and the Netherlands-based ING Groep N.V. (ING, INGA.AE) rose 8.7% to $6.63. The Asian index rose 2.3% to 118.76. Adding to the boost was South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd. (LPL, 034220.SE), which saw shares rise amid growing market speculation that Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) new iPhone 5 product is expected as early as next month. The LCD panel maker is said to be one of three panel suppliers for the new iPhone. Shares rose 6.9% to $11.16. The Latin American index rose 2.4% to 321.22 and the emerging markets index rose 2.1% to $272.73. Brazil-based steelmaker Gerdau SA (GGB, GGBR3.BR, GGBR4.BR) posted a 9% increase in its second-quarter profit, above market expectations, as a rise in steel prices offset a drop in sales volume and the company benefited from deferred taxes. Gerdau attributed the recovery mainly to higher demand for long-steel products in the Brazilian domestic market, where its revenue climbed 11% from a year earlier and rose 8% from first-quarter levels on stable production and sales. Shares rose 4.3% to $9.28. Shares of Chile-based utility holding Enersis S.A. (ENI, ENERSIS.SN) jumped amid news that the country's securities regulator ruled the company's planned capital increase of up to $8 billion--the biggest ever in the Chilean market--is an intercompany transaction and subject to different conditions. This will require a new valuation of the assets Enersis's controlling shareholder, Spain's Endesa SA (ELEZY, ELE.MC), will contribute, among other measures. Shares rose 5.3% to $17.35. Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
