Stocks rallied today, led by a surge in health care stocks, the Wall Street Journal reports. Traders were betting that Scott Brown would beat Martha Coakley in Massachusetts and damage the chances of health care reform.
- The Dow rose 116 points to close at 10,725.
- The Nasdaq added 32 points, settling at 2,320.
- The S&P 500 gained 14 points, closing at 1,150.
"Health-care stocks are likely to rally in the event of a GOP Senate seat win given the implied higher odds that health-reform efforts are thwarted," said a Goldman Sachs analyst. "By contrast, hospital stocks might be under pressure, as these companies have been viewed as net winners under reform." (More Dow Jones stories.)