[BRIEFING.COM] The major averages remain firmly higher just after midday.
The health care sector (-0.4%) is the worst-performing S&P 500 sector today, extending its decline for the week to 3.0% and leaving the group on pace for its lowest close since early August. Biotech stocks are also under pressure, with the SPDR Biotech ETF (XBI 154.03, -0.48, -0.31%) hovering near levels last seen in early August, while relative strength among managed care names has helped limit the sector's decline. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 255.64, -3.02, -1.17%) and Amgen (AMGN 403.00, -4.27, -1.05%) are among the worst-performing DJIA components outside of NIKE (NKE 33.39, -1.76, -5.01%).