03:53 PM EST, 12/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Tech stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) up 0.3% and the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) rising 1.1%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor index added 0.4%.

In corporate news, Digital Ally ( DGLY ) shares fell about 1.5% after it said Thursday it has received a notice from Nasdaq over its non-compliance with the exchange's $1 minimum bid price rule for continued listing.

Alibaba ( BABA ) agreed to merge its South Korean operations with E-Mart's e-commerce platform Gmarket, media outlets reported. Alibaba ( BABA ) added 0.7%.

Apple ( AAPL ) shares rose 0.4%. Wedbush said that its artificial intelligence strategy is expected to spur a "golden era of growth" in 2025 for the company.

SEALSQ ( LAES ) shares surged 59% after the company said it launched a research and innovation hub that aims to help organizations transition to quantum-safe encryption.