Sector Update: Health Care

Health care stocks were gaining Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 0.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 0.9%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.9%.

In corporate news, Merck's MRK shares jumped 4.6% after it received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its drug Winrevair to treat adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension.