Shares of Levi Strauss & Co. jumped 3.5% in afternoon trading Friday, to outperform the S&P 500’s 2.4% gain, after the jeans and apparel seller said it is “strongly” opposes any steps to restrict access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion. “Protection of reproductive rights is a critical business issue impacting our workforce, our economy and progress toward gender and racial equity,” the company said in a statement. “As part of our commitment, we are continuing to ensure our employees get the care they need regardless of where they live and support reproductive health organizations on the front lines of this issue. Last month, the company had said it wouldreimburse travel expenses for employees to receive health care, including abortion, that is not available in their home state. Earlier Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had granted women the right to abortion in all states for nearly the past 50 years. That decision would likely lead to abortion being illegal in roughly half the states.
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