01:35 PM EDT, 11/01/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 0.9% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.7%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.3%.

In corporate news, Cardinal Health ( CAH ) reported fiscal Q1 results that topped Wall Street expectations amid a double-digit profit increase in its pharmaceutical and specialty solutions segment, prompting the drug distributor to lift its full-year earnings outlook. Its shares jumped 6%.