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Article: Attractive Health-Care Funds Demand a Surgeon's Touch
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- February 8, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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-- Investors who sought refuge in health care have reason to
feel less queasy than most in a sick economy where no industry has
been recession-proof.
Health care stocks posted the second-smallest loss over the past
year among 10 sectors tracked by Standard & Poor's, with an average
decline of 21.6 percent through the end of January. Consumer staples
such as food and household products like laundry detergent did a
little better, with a 19.7 percent decline. Both sectors easily beat
the S&P 500-stock index, which tumbled 40 percent.
Now comes the tricky part: figuring out how much safe-harbor
staying power health care has left 14 months into this recession.
When enough investors see a glimmer ...