01:37 PM EDT, 08/29/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each adding about 0.4%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was decreasing 0.2%.

In corporate news, CVS Health ( CVS ) is currently holding off on offering COVID-19 vaccines in 16 states due to the "current regulatory environment," The New York Times reported Friday, citing a company spokesperson. CVS shares were rising 0.9%.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) has canceled employment contracts for some new hires in Denmark as part of cost-cutting measures, Bloomberg reported. The move follows the company's decision earlier this month to impose a global hiring freeze and reduce some employee bonuses, the report said. Novo shares were up 0.1%.

Eli Lilly ( LLY ) is partnering with China's JD Health International internet healthcare platform to sell its obesity and diabetes drugs to Chinese consumers online, Bloomberg reported, citing Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) official WeChat account. Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares were down 0.2%.