Aussie healthcare stocks see worst session in nearly 10 months on local currency gains

CSL Finance

06/08/2019 06:46

** Australian healthcare index  .AXHJ  falls as much as
4.27% to its worst intraday session since Oct. 9, 2018
    ** The export reliant healthcare firms were hurt as the
local currency  AUD=D3  firmed against a weaker U.S. dollar,
supported by the Reserve Bank of Australia leaving interest
rates unchanged at 1.0%  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N251684
    ** Sector heavyweight, drugmaker CSL Ltd  CSL.AX  slumps up
to 5% to its worst intraday percentage fall in nearly 10 months 
    ** Australia-listed shares of ResMed Inc  RMD.AX  and
medical device maker Cochlear Ltd  COH.AX  each drops up to 5.2%
    ** Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd  CUV.AX  is the top loser on
the index, falling as much as 8.1% to its lowest level since May
14
    ** Declines in the index were also in line with the broader
market  .AXJO  that has been rocked by the rapidly escalating
trade dispute between the United States and China 
    ** The healthcare index has risen 21.63% this year, as of
last close

 (Reporting by Sameer Manekar)
 ((Sameer.Manekar@thomsonreuters.com;))