01:52 PM EDT, 03/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index up 0.3% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) gaining 0.4%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) added 1.1%.

In corporate news, Becton, Dickinson ( BDX ) shares rose 1.2% after the company said it's raising domestic production of syringes following the latest US Food and Drug Administration safety communication on plastic syringes.

Lisata Therapeutics ( LSTA ) gained 7.8% after the company said the US FDA granted rare pediatric disease designation to LSTA1 for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Edwards Lifesciences ( EW ) is best positioned for leadership in the transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies market thanks to clinical progress in the segment, Morgan Stanley said. The investment firm raised the company's price target to $103 from $95 and kept the overweight rating. Edwards shares gained 2.2%.