01:15 PM EDT, 10/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks edged lower Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index easing 0.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) fractionally lower.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.2%.

In corporate news, Avanos Medical ( AVNS ) shares fell 0.6% after it agreed to sell its US orthopedic rental business, known as Game Ready, to closely held WRS Group for an undisclosed sum.