LONDON, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Dow Jones ended the day 0.15 percent lower at 14,054.49, while the S&P 500 closed at 1,514.68, down 0.09 percent. NASDAQ also followed suit closing the day at 3,160.19, down 0.07 percent. Markets made some gains in the earlier part of the trading session but gave those up following news about economic growth in fourth quarter. In light of this, our research team took a look at the healthcare sector including major companies like Affymax Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFY), Questcore Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) and Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTR). StockCall has taken an interest in these companies and you can now sign up to download the free technical research on AFFY, QCOR, GILD, VRTX and OPTR at

http://www.stockcall.com/registration

Affymax's stock finished 0.75 percent lower at $2.65 with volume up from daily average of 3.93 million to 6.81 million. The stock has had a dismal run so far in 2013 with its year-to-date loss at 86 percent. It currently shows bearish trend which is further confirmed by its MACD chart. Affymax has its first support level at $2.55. In the coming trading sessions, the stock is likely to go as high as $2.67. Sign up today to read the free research report on AFFY at

http://www.StockCall.com/AFFY030113.pdf

Questcore Pharmaceuticals stock dropped in its previous trading session. The stock closed 1.21 percent lower at $32.60 with 1.79 million share volume. Despite the significant upward movement, it is still up more than 22 percent for the year. In the past 52 weeks, Questcore is down 16.2 percent. The stock currently has support at $32.35 level. The stock's MACD chart shows bullish trend and it may face its first resistance level at $32.75. Upon breaching this level, the stock may go as high as $32.95. Register to download the free technical analysis on QCOR at

http://www.StockCall.com/QCOR030113.pdf

Gilead Sciences is currently in a neutral mode as the stock ended Thursday's trading session at $42.72, down 0.40 percent. The stock traded in the range of $42.71 and $43.18 during the session. Its first support level is at $42.31 and upon breaching this level, the stock may go down to $41.78 level. On the upside, the biotech's stock may touch $43.14 level. The company's stock has traded in the range of $22.40 and $43.35 in the past 52 weeks and it grew by 88.78 percent during the same time period. Free report on GILD can be accessed by registering at

http://www.StockCall.com/GILD030113.pdf

Vertex's shares traded lower for its latest trading session, ending the day 0.32 percent lower at $46.82. The stock fell to an intra-day low of $46.59, while its intra-day high stood at $48.15. Despite the downward movement, Vertex gained more than 11 percent this year, compared to a gain of 6.2 percent for the S&P 500. The stock has strong support at around $46.25, as it shows a neutral trend. The stock is trading higher than its 20-day and 50-day moving averages. Register with StockCall and download the research on VRTX for free at

http://www.StockCall.com/VRTX030113.pdf

Optimer Pharma traded in the range of $11.78 and $12.20 in yesterday's trading session and ended the day at $12.12, down 0.08 percent. The stock's 52 weeks range stands at $8.64 and $16.49. Optimer has lost 4.57 percent of its value in the past 12 months, while it gained 33.92 percent so far this year. The biotech company is in a neutral mode and may find its first support level at $11.72. It is trading above its 20-day moving average of $10.98. Read the full free research on OPTR by signing up to StockCall at

http://www.StockCall.com/OPTR030113.pdf

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