Markets Right Now: Technology, energy lead US stock gains

NEW YORK — The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

11:45 a.m.

Stock indexes are slightly higher on Wall Street in midday trading, driven by solid gains in technology companies.

HP rose 6.7 percent in midday trading Friday after giving a strong outlook for next year.

Health insurers and hospital operators fell sharply after President Donald Trump said the government will halt payments to insurers under the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans have been trying to repeal.

Tenet Healthcare, a hospital company, dropped 4.4 percent. Centene, a Medicaid program administrator, fell 4.5 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,555.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 40 points, or 0.2 percent, 22,882. The Nasdaq composite rose 21 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,612.

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9:35 a.m.

Stock indexes are slightly higher on Wall Street in early trading as technology and energy companies post solid gains.

HP rose 5.6 percent early Friday after giving a strong outlook for next year. ConocoPhillips rose 1.2 percent.

Health insurers and hospital operators fell sharply after President Donald Trump said the government will halt payments to insurers under the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans have been trying to repeal.

Tenet Healthcare, a hospital company, dropped 7.6 percent. Centene fell 8.6 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,553.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 28 points, or 0.1 percent, 22,869. The Nasdaq composite rose 13 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,604.