Today: 7 February 2026
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Healthcare News 28 January 2026 - 4 February 2026

Merck stock price rises today as MRK rallies on Keytruda strength despite soft 2026 outlook

Merck stock price rises today as MRK rallies on Keytruda strength despite soft 2026 outlook

Merck shares rose 2.8% to $119.11 by midday Wednesday after the company beat Q4 expectations, but projected 2026 revenue of $65.5–$67.0 billion, below analyst forecasts. Keytruda sales climbed 7% while Gardasil dropped 34% on weak China demand. The company cited a $2.5 billion hit from generic drugs and U.S. pricing pressure. Investors remain focused on Merck’s ability to offset declines in older products.
4 February 2026
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Abbott (ABT) stock slips on FDA warning letter over FreeStyle Libre testing; dates to watch

Abbott (ABT) stock slips on FDA warning letter over FreeStyle Libre testing; dates to watch

Abbott Laboratories shares fell 0.6% to $108.77 after the FDA issued a warning letter over quality-control lapses in its FreeStyle Libre glucose monitors. The FDA said Abbott released devices without required accuracy tests and failed to ensure specs were met by third-party manufacturers. Abbott has 15 business days to respond. Shares had dropped as much as 2.9% earlier in the session.
3 February 2026
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Sigma Healthcare shares hold steady despite ASX slump; RBA call and Feb results loom

Sigma Healthcare shares hold steady despite ASX slump; RBA call and Feb results loom

Sigma Healthcare closed unchanged at A$3.09, bucking a 1.02% drop in the S&P/ASX 200 as gold and mining shares slumped. A global metals selloff triggered forced selling, according to strategists. Investors await the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy decision Tuesday. Sigma will report half-year results on Feb. 26.
2 February 2026
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UnitedHealth stock: the Medicare Advantage deadline that could drive UNH’s next move

UnitedHealth stock: the Medicare Advantage deadline that could drive UNH’s next move

UnitedHealth Group shares fell 1.8% to $286.93 Friday as investors weighed the government’s proposed 2027 Medicare Advantage rates. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services set a Feb. 25 deadline for comments and plans to announce final rates by April 6. UnitedHealth’s stock had plunged nearly 20% earlier in the week after the initial rate proposal missed analyst expectations.
1 February 2026
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Healthcare stocks hold up as defensive bid lingers; Pfizer, Merck earnings set the tone

Healthcare stocks hold up as defensive bid lingers; Pfizer, Merck earnings set the tone

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) rose 0.6% to $154.74 Friday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.43%. Healthcare and consumer staples were the only S&P sectors in positive territory as investors shifted to defensive stocks. Major managed-care shares lagged after a minimal proposed Medicare Advantage rate hike. Pfizer, Merck, and Eli Lilly report earnings next week.
1 February 2026
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Healthcare stocks hold up as Lilly’s $3.5 billion plant plan hits tape; biotech bruised

Healthcare stocks hold up as Lilly’s $3.5 billion plant plan hits tape; biotech bruised

Eli Lilly shares rose 1.3% after announcing a $3.5 billion Pennsylvania plant for obesity drugs, helping the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund gain 0.6% as the S&P 500 fell. Biotech lagged, with Corcept Therapeutics dropping 10.6% after an FDA rejection. Thermo Fisher slid 2.3% on weak profit guidance. Stryker jumped 4.3% after raising its outlook.
31 January 2026
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Humana stock bounces after Medicare Advantage rate shock; what traders are watching next

Humana stock bounces after Medicare Advantage rate shock; what traders are watching next

Humana shares rose 1.5% to $196.94 Thursday afternoon after steep losses earlier in the week, triggered by a U.S. proposal for a 0.09% Medicare Advantage payment hike in 2027. The stock had plunged 21% Tuesday and another 6.7% Wednesday. Investors await Humana’s quarterly results Feb. 11 and the final Medicare rate decision in April.
29 January 2026
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Walmart stock price rises after pharmacy pay boost as investors eye healthcare push (WMT)

Walmart stock price rises after pharmacy pay boost as investors eye healthcare push (WMT)

Walmart shares rose 0.7% to $117.39 by midday Thursday after the company raised pay for 3,000 pharmacy technicians and expanded wage ranges to as much as $40.50 an hour. The move comes as Walmart upgrades pharmacy roles and scales digital health services. The S&P 500-linked SPDR ETF fell 0.6% and Amazon dropped 1.2% in the same session. Walmart operates about 4,600 pharmacies nationwide.
29 January 2026
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Humana stock slides again as Medicare Advantage rate proposal keeps pressure on insurers

Humana stock slides again as Medicare Advantage rate proposal keeps pressure on insurers

Humana shares fell 6.1% to $195.31 by midday Wednesday, extending a sharp two-day selloff after U.S. Medicare officials proposed a 0.09% average payment increase for 2027. Investors are watching for final rates in April and Humana’s February 11 earnings. The proposal raised concerns about potential benefit cuts and tighter margins for Medicare Advantage insurers.
28 January 2026
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Elevance Health stock gets hit by Medicare rate surprise — what traders watch before earnings

Elevance Health stock gets hit by Medicare rate surprise — what traders watch before earnings

Elevance Health shares fell 14.3% to $322.92 Tuesday after a Medicare Advantage rate proposal from CMS projected a net average payment increase of just 0.09%, far below Wall Street expectations. The move triggered a broader selloff in health insurer stocks. Investors are awaiting Elevance’s earnings report Wednesday for updates on pricing and costs. CMS will finalize policy milestones in late February and early April.
28 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Meta stock faces an AI split: ad gains vs a $135 billion bill

Meta stock faces an AI split: ad gains vs a $135 billion bill

7 February 2026
Meta shares dropped 1.3% to $661.46 on Friday after the company projected 2026 capital spending of up to $135 billion, raising investor concerns over cash flow. Meta reported Q4 revenue of $59.89 billion, up 24% year-over-year, with ad impressions rising 18%. Analysts remain divided on whether AI-driven ad gains can offset the steep spending ramp.
IAG share price jumps toward a 52-week peak — what to watch before London reopens

IAG share price jumps toward a 52-week peak — what to watch before London reopens

7 February 2026
IAG shares rose 4.33% to 438.50 pence Friday, near their 52-week high, ahead of full-year results due later this month. The company reported 162,073,135 treasury shares and total voting rights of 4,565,128,012. Brent crude fell 2.2% Thursday to $67.93 a barrel. South Europe Ground Services logged 712,340 operations in 2025 and seeks approval to operate in Portugal.
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