01:39 PM EDT, 09/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were declining Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.6% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) easing 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 0.9%.

In corporate news, Cardinal Health ( CAH ) agreed to buy Integrated Oncology Network for $1.12 billion in cash, as part of its efforts to strengthen its specialty and oncology portfolio. Cardinal shares were rising 0.7%.