01:34 PM EDT, 10/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Tech stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) up 0.1% and the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) climbing 2.4%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor index rose 1%.

In corporate news, Verb Technology ( VERB ) shares surged 79% after its top executive said the stock should be trading at more than $22 per share and that the company is "extremely well capitalized" and virtually debt-free.