Healthcare stocks were lower Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index decreasing 0.5% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) shedding 0.6%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) declined 0.8%.
In corporate news, Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty to federal charges related to the killing of former UnitedHealth (UNH) executive Brian Thompson, according to his lawyer, multiple media outlets reported Friday. Mangione faces two counts of stalking in connection with Thompson's death in December 2024, Bloomberg reported. UnitedHealth shares were up 0.5%.