01:32 PM EST, 12/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Friday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index up 0.5% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) gaining 1.8%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.6%.

In corporate news, Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) shares tumbled 18% after clinical trial results of the Danish pharmaceutical giant's investigative weight loss drug fell short of its own expectations.