US election result key to future of healthcare sector

ON SPECIALIST MARKETS

The healthcare sector had a positive 2011 and outperformed a difficult environment for equities.

The large-cap stocks were the stand-out performers, with pharmaceuticals both in Europe and the US as the highlight, complemented by strength from health insurance, and biotechnology stocks. In 2012, the market environment could prove equally challenging considering the issues that remain for Europe, and the slowdown in emerging markets. However, with Europe effectively engaged in QE on an enormous scale and the economic data in the US surpassing expectations, reasons exist for more optimism. Drilling this view down to the sector, the recent uptick in the US for employment and consume...