Biotech booms: XBI index up 30% in 2026, hitting five-year high

At the halfway point of 2026, the biotechnology sector is booming. The XBI index, the most closely watched biotech benchmark, gained 19% in June alone and is up 30% for the year. Trading at 158, the XBI has reached a five-year high and is approaching its all-time peak of $175 set in February 2021.