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Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon

-- Health care stocks were mixed late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) easing 0.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.2%.

In corporate news, STAAR Surgical (STAA) needs to show that the rebound in China is sustainable after the firm reported much higher preliminary Q1 net sales than consensus, Wedbush said in a note. Wedbush raised the company's price target to $26 from $21, while keeping its neutral rating. STAAR shares jumped 21%.

Amazon.com's (AMZN) Amazon Pharmacy said Thursday it is offering Eli Lilly's (LLY) obesity pill Foundayo. Additionally, WW International (WW) said Thursday it is now offering access to Foundayo for weight loss through its Med+ program and affiliated medical groups. Lilly shares rose 0.4%.

BridgeBio Pharma (BBIO) is transitioning from a single-asset transthyretin story into a diversified rare disease company, with growth poised to accelerate beyond its ATTR franchise, RBC Capital said in a note. RBC started coverage of the company with an outperform rating and a price target of $100. BridgeBio shares rose 2.7%.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) said Thursday it is calling on the US Food and Drug Administration to withdraw a proposal in the regulator's fiscal 2027 Congressional Budget Justification that would extend drug review timelines. Vanda shares were down 0.3%.

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Persian Gulf Outlook Caps European Bourses Midday

European bourses tracked sideways midday Wednesday after US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended a Persian Gulf ceasefire on Tuesday, but the Strait of Hormuz remained closed to tanker traffic.Property, oil, and tech stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while bank shares lagged.Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1% at $99.49 a barrel.Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the green amid choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.In economic news, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed AccelerateEU, a set of measures to tackle fossil fuel shortages triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure. However, the EC said true security would come from a shift to domestically produced clean energies.The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was stable mid-session.The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1%, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.9%.The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1.5%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index edged 0.1% higher.The REITE, a European REIT index, gained 0.8%.On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London was steady. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.4%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 0.4%.Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 3%.The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 4.4% at 23.10, but still indicating above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.

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Mining & Metals

Altius Minerals Price Target Raised to $52 at Raymond James

Raymond James raised its price target on Altius Minerals Corp. (ALS.TO) to $52 from $48.Analyst Brian MacArthur maintained an Outperform rating on shares of the Canadian diversified mining and metals royalty company ahead of its Q1 results on May 12."ALS expects to report 1Q26 attributable royalty revenue of about $26.4 Million compared to $15.0 Million in 1Q25," MacArthur said in a note to clients."Of note base metal revenue of $9.1 Million for the quarter reflects higher realized copper prices and the timing of copper stream deliveries from Chapada, as well as higher Voisey's Bay revenue while increased lithium revenue of $5.4 Million reflects the acquisition of Lithium Royalty Corp," the analyst said.

$ALS.TO
Mining & Metals

Pulsar Helium Secures Option Over 488,090 Acres in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Pulsar Helium (PLSR.V) said Wednesday that it secured an option to lease 488,090 gross acres of mineral rights comprising the Falcon project in Michigan from Keweenaw Land Association (KLA).Pulsar said the three-year option commenced March 31 and covers non-hydrocarbon gases including helium-4, helium-3, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The company must spend at least US$1.0 million in exploration under the agreement.The agreement contains a staged acreage surrender schedule, allowing Pulsar to refine its exploration focus across the project and thereby reduce its retained acreage. A final development leasehold of up to 20,000 net acres can be selected at the exercise of the option, Pulsar said.Upon the exercise of the option, Pulsar and KLA would enter into a definitive agreement with established commercial terms, including proceeds distributed as royalty revenue payable to KLA."Michigan's Precambrian basement geology is highly prospective, and the region has not seen any activity for primary helium exploration," Pulsar Chief Executive Officer Thomas Abraham-James said.The company said it has assembled a team to evaluate the property.

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