The Standard & Poor's index was sharply divided between winners and losers in 2015, and healthcare was one of the sectors that rose last year, according to The Province.
The healthcare sector was up 5.2 percent in 2015. Drug company gains and a wave of consolidation, specifically among heath insurers, helped boost the sector last year, according to the report.
Major health insurer deals announced last year include Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna's acquisition of Louisville, Ky.-based Humana as well as Indianapolis-based Anthem's takeover of Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna. Both transactions still require regulatory approval.
Healthcare was among four of the index's 10 sectors that rose last year, while energy and five others fell, according to the report.
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