02:00 PM EDT, 10/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging up Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each adding about 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.3%.

In corporate news, Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) reported better-than-expected Q3 results on Wednesday amid double-digit revenue growth in its medical devices segment, while the company narrowed its full-year earnings outlook range. Its shares rose 1.7%.

Gritstone Bio ( GRTS ) is in talks for funding and has held "some conversations" with potential bankruptcy plan sponsors, Bloomberg reported. Its shares tumbled past 7%.

French unions have called a strike at Sanofi ( SNY ) starting Thursday to protest the planned sale of the company's consumer health division Opella to US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice, Reuters reported. Sanofi ( SNY ) shares were down 0.3%.