Shares of biotechnology companies opened mixed Thursday as the broader market rose after the Labor Department reported that the nation's unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent last month, easing concerns over a worsening job losses.
How several key biotechnology stocks performed Thursday:
Gilead Sciences Inc., up 5 cents to $51.34.
Amgen Inc., up 65 cents to $49.49.
Biogen Idec Inc., up 96 cents to $59.32
Genentech Inc., down 47 cents to $77.67.