Health Care

With less than a month left to confront budget cuts and tax increases, the president will speak to to members of the Business Roundtable today after reaffirming his position on higher tax rates for the wealthiest Americans.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc plans to spend more than $1 billion to raise stakes in its Indian and Nigerian consumer healthcare arms, as Britain's biggest drugmaker deepens its emerging markets and non-prescription consumer health footprint.

Aetna has signed a deal to buy rival Coventry Health Care for $5.7 billion.

Shares of some top pharmaceuticals companies were mixed at the close of trading: Baxter International Inc. fell $1.82 or 2.5 percent, to $71.49.

Shares of some top managed care companies were down at the close of trading: Aetna fell $1.20 or 1.4 percent, to $87.60.

A look at the 10 biggest percentage gainers on Nasdaq at 1 p.m.: conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose 23.0 percent to $9.95.

Shares of some top medical devices companies were mixed at the close of trading: Allergan fell $1.32 or .6 percent, to $211.43.

Shares of some top managed care companies are down at 1 p.m.: Aetna fell $1.00 or 1.1 percent, to $87.80.

Shares of some top medical devices companies are mixed at 1 p.m.: Allergan fell $.64 or .3 percent, to $212.11.

Shares of some top pharmaceuticals companies are mixed at 1 p.m.: Baxter International Inc. fell $1.93 or 2.6 percent, to $71.38.

Shares of some top health care equipment companies are mixed at 1 p.m.: Becton, Dickinson & Co. rose $1.18 or .8 percent, to $141.05.

Shares of some top biotechnology companies are mixed at 1 p.m.: Amgen Inc. fell $2.52 or 1.6 percent, to $157.37.

Shares of some top medical devices companies are mixed at 10 a.m.: Allergan fell $.13 or .1 percent, to $212.62.

Shares of some top pharmaceuticals companies are mixed at 10 a.m.: Baxter International Inc. fell $1.56 or 2.1 percent, to $71.75.

Shares of some top managed care companies are down at 10 a.m.: Aetna fell $.21 or .2 percent, to $88.59.