Health Ins Stocks Rise:

[amborin]

(as if we didn't know)

Insurers Keep Climbing

March 19, 2010


"LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Shares of insurers kept climbing Friday as uncertainty over a health-care reform package nearing a key vote in Congress seemed to clear.

Virtually all major insurers made sizable gains by the close, prospering in the face of a broadly lower U.S. stock market, though they gave back some of the gains realized earlier in the session.

Aetna Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!aet/quotes/nls/aet (AET 34.46, +1.22, +3.67%) led the way, stepping up 3.7%. Aetna benefited from statements by Chief Financial Officer Joseph Zubretsky, who said the company's 2010 financial results are "off to a good start," according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires. Zubretsky put Aetna's first-quarter earnings in line with analyst estimates and said an expected decline in membership by 350,000 would be smaller than anticipated.

Cigna Corp. /quotes/comstock/13*!ci/quotes/nls/ci (CI 37.08, +1.24, +3.46%) , was close behind Aetna, rising 3.5%.


AM Report: Final Health Vote NearsIs it the end or the end of the beginning for the Obama administration's battle for passing health reform legislation? Janet Adamy reports on last minute deal-making that could lead to a vote on Sunday.
Cigna was the leader earlier in the session, posting near-5% gains.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!unh/quotes/nls/unh (UNH 34.39, +0.80, +2.38%) and WellPoint Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!wlp/quotes/nls/wlp (WLP 65.07, +1.25, +1.96%) , the nation's two biggest insurers, climbed by 2% or more. HealthNet Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!hnt/quotes/nls/hnt (HNT 26.15, +0.40, +1.55%) added 1.6% and Coventry Health Care rose 1.7%. The only company to lose ground was Humana Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!hum/quotes/nls/hum (HUM 50.00, -0.09, -0.18%) , off marginally at the close. "


snip

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/insurers-keep-climbing-as-key-vote-nears-2010-03-19?siteid=rss&rss=1

[tridim]

1. So the Wall Street bet is that these Insurance companies will play ball with the new laws.

We'll see if they're right, but history tells me they aren't.

I'll be very interested to revisit these numbers in a few months after millions of people move to better plans.

[Donnachaidh]

2. not at all surprized - they want this POS bill, and are close to having their dreams come true

Indentured servitude to the for profit insurance cartel, brought to you by the agents of *hope and Change*.

yay! :puke:

[mmonk]

3. Certainly. That's a huge inflow of the public's money.

[rfranklin]

4. that HCR bill is sure putting the screws to the insurance companies!

You gotta wonder if Wall Street knows something.

[CornerBar]

5. Speaks volumes

[ipaint]

6. If there was real reform in the bill stocks would be plunging.

Which is why we don't have any real reform in the bill. That goes double for regulations. Whisper that word anywhere near wall street and stocks drop.

Funny how they are embracing all that increased regulation and the resulting cut in profits. I think I hear the shareholders applauding in the background.

Yup, up is down, black is white and wall street loves increased regulations. :crazy:

[Hannah Bell]

12. +100

[OhioChick]

13. "If there was real reform in the bill stocks would be plunging"

Common sense in this day and age.

[leftstreet]

16. +1

[Lyric]

7. Maybe my partner should use her subsidy to buy BCBS stock.

She'd probably end up better off that way in the end. *sigh*

[bvar22]

8. Suprise, surprise!

Champaign Corks will be a-popping in the boardrooms when the Health Insurance Industry Profit Enhancement Bill becomes LAW.

Its only fair.
Wall Street got their Trillion Dollars.
The Health Insurance Execs deserve theirs too.

NOW, the Health Insurance Execs will be able to buy in to the same Aspen Summer Home neighborhood as the Wall Street Bankers.
Its ALL good.
"A Uniquely American Solution!".....indeed.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. Color me shocked

NOT!

[emulatorloo]

10. SO? The tech stocks I have rose too. Lots of stocks did, the market had a good day

[amborin]

14. i read it was not overall good day

[blogslut]

11. Stock market types buy for myriad reasons

Could be they see an upcoming drop in value and are buying up stocks so they can sell short.

[emulatorloo]

15. good point n/t