The latest Market Talks covering the Health Care sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

0757 GMT – Novartis’s upgraded mid-term sales growth guidance was widely anticipated, Jefferies analysts write in a research note. The Swiss pharmaceutical company said it now expects a compound annual growth rate of 5% in the period between 2022 and 2027, up from a prior forecast of 4%. It also said it is confident of growing at a mid-single-digit rate in the longer term due to the strength of de-risked existing brands and pipeline assets. “Pruned pipeline and greater efficiency are paying off in our view, with still underappreciated opportunities likely to be flagged,” the analysts say. ([email protected])