03:25 PM EST, 02/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.7%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.4%.

In corporate news, Novartis ( NVS ) stakeholder Emasan is offering to sell around 26.5 million shares, or a 1.2% stake, in the pharmaceutical company, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Novartis ( NVS ) shares were rising 0.3%.