By Anna Prior
International companies trading in New York closed lower
Thursday as investors hit the pause button a day after the U.S.
Federal Reserve said it will continue its open-ended economic
stimulus efforts.
The Bank of New York index of ADRs slipped 0.5% to 146.57.
Thursday's decline comes a day after a sharp increase as the Fed
said it would continue its $85 billion-a-month bond buying,
surprising many investors who expected the central bank to scale
back the program.
Meanwhile, data showed that U.K. retail sales for August fell
unexpectedly.
The European index fell 0.5% to 140.62.
Time is running out for Telecom Italia SpA (TI, TIA, TIT.MI) to
address its balance sheet and assuage the credit agencies, said
Berenberg as it trimmed its price target for the Italian telecom
operator but kept its hold rating. Shares fell 1.2% to $7.96.
The U.K. government took the first step in returning its share
in bailed-out bank Lloyds Banking Group (LYG, LLOY.LN) to private
investors. The privatization process will be gradual. After this
week's 6% share sale, the government said it doesn't plan to sell
any more shares for at least 90 days. Shares fell 1.2% to
$4.94.
Shares of Royal Philips NV (PHG, PHIA.AE) slipped after the
Dutch electronics and health-care company gave a company update
ahead of its London Capital Markets Day. RBC Capital Markets noted
that Philips increased its group margin target but questions
whether it will be enough. Shares edged down 0.9% to $32.62.
The Asian index dropped 0.5% to 149.58.
Australian metal and electronics recycler Sims Metal Management
Ltd. (SMS, SGM.AU) said it intends to voluntarily delist is
American depositary receipts from the New York Stock Exchange on or
around Oct. 11. Shares fell 2.2% to $9.20.
Tata Motors Ltd. (TTM, 500570.BY), along with Hyundai Motor Co.
(HYMLY, 005380.SE) and General Motors Co. (GM), is raising its
vehicle prices in India to counter higher costs, caused mainly by a
sharp fall in the rupee. Shares of the Indian auto maker rose 0.8%
to $27.67.
The Latin American index slid 0.5% to 301.34, while the
emerging-markets index fell 0.4% to 281.88.
Despite gold futures continuing to rise a day after the Federal
Reserve surprised investors by announcing it would stick to its
bond-buying program, shares of South African gold miners gave up
some of Wednesday's gains. Harmony Gold Mining Co. (HMY, HAR.JO)
fell 8% to $3.79, while Drdgold (DRD, DRD.JO) dropped 8% to $5.88,
Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI, GFI.JO) fell 5.4% to $4.95, and AngloGold
Ashanti Ltd. (AU, ANG.JO) fell 3.4% to $13.81.
Bucking the downward trend was Brazilian phone company Oi SA
(OIBR, OIBR4.BR, OIBRC) said late Wednesday it would pay dividends
of 30 centavos, or about 14 cents, a share. Oi preferred shares--to
which the dividends are tied--rose 3.9% to $2.13.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com