Sector Update: Healthcare

01:12 PM EDT, 09/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks declined Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index decreasing 0.5% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) down 0.4%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 1.1%. In corporate news, the US Treasury Department is drafting rules that could allow pharmaceutical companies to enter into licensing agreements for Chinese drugs that do not involve pathogens or potential bio-weapons, Reuters reported. Pfizer (PFE) and other pharmaceutical companies have met with Trump administration officials in recent months to advocate against broad restrictions on investments in Chinese drug development, the report said. Pfizer shares were down 0.5%.