03:32 PM EST, 01/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks advanced late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 1.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.1%.

In corporate news, IceCure Medical ( ICCM ) shares popped 3.7% after it said Friday it has received an intention to grant notice from the European Patent Office for its cryoablation technology.