International companies trading in New York closed higher Tuesday, in line with the broader market, as better-than-expected economic data from Asia and Europe lifted investor sentiment.

The Bank of New York index of ADRs rose 3% to 123.25, led higher by resources stocks.

An official reading of China's purchasing-managers index released Sunday was stronger than analysts had expected, with conditions showing growth against a prior contraction.

Mining stocks and commodities are sensitive to signs of growth in China, which is a big user of natural resources.

Oil futures finished at their highest level in about eight months Tuesday as heightening tensions between Iran and the West raised fears of supply disruptions. Chinese oil stocks advanced along with the price of crude: Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co. (SHI, K3DD.SG, 600688.SH, 0338.HK) rose 6.1% to $35.10 while PetroChina Co. (PTR, K3OD.SG, 601857.SH, 0857.HK) increased 5.7% to $131.38. Hong Kong's CNOOC Ltd. (CEO, 0883.HK) gained 5.7% to $184.63.

Meanwhile, China Petrochemical Corp. (SNP, 0386.HK, 600028.SH) struck a multibillion-dollar deal with Devon Energy Corp. (DVN) for a one-third stake in five U.S. shale oil and gas fields in another move by a Chinese state-owned firm eager to play a bigger role in the global rush to tap unconventional fossil fuels. Sinopec shares rose 6.2% to $111.59.

Overall, the Asian index added 3.3% to 117.01.

Gambling revenue in Macau rose 25% in December from a year earlier, government statistics showed Tuesday, capping a year of incredible growth fueled by players from mainland China despite intensifying concerns about the effects of credit tightening or an economic slowdown there. Shares of Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MPEL, 6883.HK) rose 3.4% to $9.95.

The European index closed 2.9% higher at 115.21.

German stocks closed higher after a report showed the number of jobless in Europe's top economy fell in December by more than analysts had predicted. Daimler AG (DDAIF, DAI.XE) closed 8.8% higher at $47.70, while Aixtron SE (AIXG, AIXA.XE) rose 7.7% to $13.68 and Allianz SE (AZSEY, ALIZF, ALV.XE) gained 6.9% to $10.12.

French oil company Total SA (TOT. FP.FR) purchased a minority stake in a swath of Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s (CHK) Ohio shale discovery for $2.32 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported, in a deal that shows foreign companies' growing appetite for U.S. oil and gas assets. Total shares rose 2.7% to $52.47.

Drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA, TEVA.TV) doesn't have to be just a growth company or a mature company focused on returning cash to shareholders, Chairman Phillip Frost said. Teva is "capable of good growth" for the foreseeable future, Frost told analysts on a conference call to introduce incoming Chief Executive Jeremy Levin. But also, "I think that the possibility to return more to the shareholders during this period is definitely there," Frost said. Shares rose 6.8% to $43.10.

The Latin American index advanced 3.4% to 342.40 as the emerging markets index climbed 3.4% to 283.43.

Brazil's oil output reached a record in November of 2.188 million barrels per day, 4.8% higher than in the same month a year earlier and 4% above the previous month as output capacity increased, particularly from pre-salt fields, Brazil's oil regulator ANP said Tuesday. Shares of state-controlled Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, closed 5.9% higher at $26.11. Petrobras also reported late Monday a new light oil and natural gas discovery in the so-called Golfinho Concession in Espirito Santo state.

Gold rose and silver surged by 5.9% on Tuesday as investors saw a bargain in the rattled markets as the dollar sank and strength in global manufacturing activity pointed to steady demand. Shares of South Africa's miners closed higher: Drdgold Ltd. (DROOY, DRD.JO) closed 7.4% higher at $5.83; Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (HMY, HAR.JO) rose 3.6% to $12.06; Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI, GFI.JO) increased 3.4% to $15.77; and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU, ANG.JO) gained 3.3% to $43.85.

-By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287; nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com