International companies trading in New York closed higher Wednesday as investors registered a round of upbeat corporate earnings and a strong reading on the U.S. housing market.

Kinder Morgan (KMI) Chief Executive Richard Kinder said Wednesday that the company is seeing delays in getting natural gas liquids from the Eagle Ford shale into pipelines, as producers in the region are facing equipment shortages.

A working group set up by Brazilian mining company Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) and the country's national mining department, or DNPM, has concluded studies to resolve a dispute over back royalties payments, the Mines and Energy Ministry said late Wednesday.

Brazilian mining company Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) said late Wednesday that iron ore production rose 15% in the second quarter from the first three months of the year as weather conditions improved.

Noble (NYSE:NE) saw its profit climb in the second quarter, exceeding Street expectations.

Qualcomm saw strong fiscal third-quarter top-line growth of 28%, and profit that increased 17%, but the chip-maker “moderated” its full-year view.

eBay's (NASDAQ:EBAY) net income increased and topped Wall Street expectations in the second quarter.

Revenue growth helped Xilinx (NASDAQ:XLNX) reap higher profit in the first quarter.

SLM (NYSE:SLM) swung to a profit in the second quarter. Earnings and Revenue The company experienced stronger-than-expected EPS and revenues. The company reported EPS of 59 cents a share versus the 54 cents a share estimate and revenues of $1.4 billion versus the $717.7 million estimate. The