Healthcare and household goods companies fell after Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble gave disappointing quarterly reports. Companies that do their manufacturing overseas finished lower and some of the US companies gave up their gains before trading ended. The 30-stock index was pulled lower by Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble’s losses. Johnson & Johnson dropped after the healthcare giant said sharply higher spending cancelled out a big jump in sales. A federal appeals court also ruled against Johnson & Johnson, saying a patent on its rheumatoid arthritis drug Remicade is not valid.

Source: Irish Independent January 23, 2018 23:15 UTC