01:46 PM EST, 01/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Wednesday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index gaining 0.3% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 0.4%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.3%.

In corporate news, GSK (GSK) is in advanced talks to buy closely held US biotech company IDRx for up to $1 billion, the Financial Times reported. GSK shares fell 0.8%.