Massachusetts Vote Gives Health Stocks a Shot in the Arm

[jefferson_dem]

Source: WSJ

By Janet Adamy

The Massachusetts Senate race has not only lifted the mood among Republicans, it’s also giving Wall Street a boost.

With many political analysts predicting a GOP victory that would doom the Democrats’ health care overhaul, investors are bidding up health stocks. Shares of health insurers and drug makers were the biggest gainers as of mid-afternoon. Shares of insurer Humana Inc. were up 6%, while pharmaceutical giants Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. Inc. were up 2.3% and 3.2%, respectively.

If Republican Sen. Scott Brown clinches the Bay State seat, Democrats would lose their 60-vote majority that allows them to block a filibuster and push through legislation. Even if Democrat Martha Coakley prevails, wavering Democrats may be too spooked by the backlash against the health bill that has catapulted Brown into contention for the seat.

“People are coming to terms with the idea that this may not happen,” one Washington health-care lobbyist said.


Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/01/19/massachusetts-vote-gives-health-stocks-a-shot-in-the-arm/

[Deep13]

1. They're still only eggs, but count 'em anyway. nt

[Tempest]

2. The only "shot in the arm" it would give the GOP

Is that they can be confident against arrogant Democratic candidates who believe they are entitled to the seat.

If Coakley ran even a half decent campaign the outcome wouldn't be in question.

[TomClash]

3. How many of these posts are we going to have?

I count at least 4.

[BP2]

4. Well, this affirms one thing:

Big Business likes it when the Party of No hinders the Party of Yes.

That alone speaks volumes.

[still_one]

5. Maybe not, they are down in futures trading this morning /nt

[RobertSeattle]

6. Not today WSJ

HUM
51.27 -0.67‎ (-1.29%‎) Jan 20 4:00pm ET
51.00‎ -0.27‎ (-0.53%‎) After Hours

[KamaAina]

7. So that truck was on Wall Street to drop off a fat load of $100 bills

:eyes:

[quiller4]

8. May have started up but health stocks closed down about 5% today