ADR Report-Foreign shares boosted by Shanghai, data

NEW YORK Aug 20 (Reuters) - Overseas shares traded in the United States were up on Thursday as Chinese equities snapped back from a recent selloff and data showed an unexpected expansion in U.S. regional manufacturing.

After a pullback that saw Shanghai shares drop 20 percent over two weeks, the Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC gained more than 4 percent to rack up its second-biggest percentage gain for the year. The rebound was a relief to investors who had worried the selloff could reverberate through other markets.

New York-listed shares of Rio Tinto RTP.N slipped 1.2 percent to $153.07 after it posted a record drop in half-year profit. But the world's second-largest miner prepared itself for recovery by selling off shares and assets to cut debt. For details, see [ID:nSYD484166]

Switzerland sold its stake in UBS (UBS.N) for 5.5 billion Swiss francs ($5.1 billion), profiting from last year's rescue of the bank. UBS jumped 10 percent to $16.99. [ID:nLK353972]

As well, the United States indicted a Swiss banker who used to work at the bank and a Swiss lawyer with aiding wealthy Americans in hiding their assets from tax authorities. [ID:nN20523844]

China Mobile (CHL.N) posted its slowest interim profit growth since it was listed in 1997 and said it expects average revenue per user to slide in the coming months. Shares of the world's largest mobile carrier fell 1.5 percent to $53.23. [ID:nPEK58027]

Sony (SNE.N) will boost its joint parts purchases with Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications to cut costs and aid the struggling cellphone joint venture, according to a news report. Sony's shares were off 0.8 percent to $26.46. [ID:nBNG256022]

Oil prices briefly reached a seven-week high before easing off as an unexpected rise in new U.S. jobless claims chilled optimism of a recovery in the economy and oil demand.

Shares of foreign energy companies rose, including PetroChina (PTR.N), which gained 2.3 percent to $112.73, while Total SA (TOT.N) was up 1.8 percent at $55.12.

The Bank of New York Mellon index of leading American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) .BKADR gained 1.3 percent. The U.S. S&P 500 index .SPX rose 1 percent in late afternoon trade as the better than expected manufacturing data and rally in Chinese equities overshadowed a gloomy jobs report.

The Bank of New York Mellon index of leading Asian ADRs .BKAS added 1.3 percent and the Bank of New York Mellon index of leading Chinese ADRs .BKCN was up 1.4 percent.

The Bank of New York Mellon index of leading European ADRs .BKEUR advanced 1.2 percent. In Europe, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares ended higher as construction and bank stocks provided a lift.

Receipts with the Bank of New York Mellon index of leading Latin American ADRs .BKLA gained 1.3 percent.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Andrew Hay)