Healthcare stocks advanced 1.6% at midday Monday.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite index both closed 0.5% higher on Friday, reaching record highs on Wall Street.
BlinkLab (ASX:BB1) obtained institutional review board approval from US-based clinical research oversight provider WIRB-Copernicus Group for the main study phase of its US FDA 510(k) diagnostic trial evaluating the BlinkLab Dx 1 technology, a smartphone-based autism assessment tool.
On the flip side, the materials sector struggled, falling 1%, amid profit-taking from iron ore producers.
Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) completed the sale of its Yilgarn iron ore assets and operations in Western Australia to Yilgarn Iron Investments, transferring ownership and all associated environmental and rehabilitation responsibilities. Yilgarn Iron will assume all environmental, closure, and rehabilitation liabilities, while the company retains the gold and lithium rights on the associated tenements.