Health-care companies rose as traders bet on strong earnings from the sector.
Shares of medical-device maker Boston Scientific rose to the highest level in more than a year after it boosted its third-quarter operating profit outlook, reflecting a resumption of elective procedures.
Shares of Pfizer rose ahead of its earnings report Wednesday. BioNTech said it would invest some of the profits from the Covid-19 vaccine it markets with Pfizer into developing shots for malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, part of the German company's plan to establish a large production hub for innovative medicines on the continent.
Reckitt Benckiser shares fell sharply after the maker of hygiene products such as Lysol and sanitized wipes said demand for such things has tapered as vaccines have rolled out.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that vaccinated people resume masking in public indoor spaces in areas with high or substantial Covid-19 transmission as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads, a person familiar with the decision said.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-27-21 1704ET
