Healthcare stocks were higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 1.3% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) increasing 0.9%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.3%.
In corporate news, GSK (GSK) said it signed a definitive agreement Tuesday to acquire Nuvalent (NUVL) for $10.6 billion in cash. GSK shares rose 0.9%, and Nuvalent surged 39%.