Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (-0.4%), Nasdaq Composite (-0.8%), and DJIA (-0.1%) remain beneath their flatlines, though they are off of their opening lows. 

The DJIA once again outperforms its peers, largely due to another strong start from the health care sector (+1.0%). 

Dow components Amgen (AMGN 342.41, +6.13, +1.82%), Merck (MRK 93.51, +2.06, +2.25%), and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 195.43, +1.04, +0.54%) are among the gainers this morning, as is the sector's largest component, Eli Lilly (LLY 1030.72, +12.94, +1.27%), which widens its week-to-date gains to 11.8%.

Sector strength has improved since the open, with the energy (+0.9%), materials (+0.2%), and consumer staples (+0.2%) sectors also trading above their baselines.