Health care stocks were rising Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.3% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.4%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 1.1%.
In sector news, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to conduct a large study into the potential relationship between vaccines and autism, Reuters reported.
In corporate news, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) jumped past 7% after the drugstore chain agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of Sycamore Partners in a deal worth up to $23.7 billion.
Molina Healthcare (MOH) and Molina Healthcare of Texas have agreed to a $40 million settlement with Texas following a Medicaid fraud investigation. Molina shares rose 2.4%.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) shares added 1%. The firm said Thursday that its Journavx non-opioid pain killer has been added by UnitedHealth Group's (UNH) drug plan unit Optum Rx to its formulary.
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