08:35 AM EST, 12/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were flat to lower pre-bell Friday as the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was inactive and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) was down 0.2% recently.

UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) and Amedisys ( AMED ) extended a deadline for closing their $3.3 billion merger agreement as the US Department of Justice scrutinizes the deal, a filing showed. Amedisys ( AMED ) shares rose past 4% premarket.