01:17 PM EDT, 08/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks declined Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) falling 1.7%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.8%.

In corporate news, UnitedHealth ( UNH ) has reached a proposed settlement with the US Justice Department and several states to resolve antitrust concerns over its $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys ( AMED ) , the department said Thursday. UnitedHealth ( UNH ) shares were down 1.4%, while Amedisys ( AMED ) rose 1.6%.