** Australian healthcare stocks .AXHJ rise as much as 1% to their highest levels since Dec 18, 2024
** The sub-index posts its biggest intraday percentage gain since Dec 24
** Analysts at brokerage Jefferies see start of improvement in the sector's performance into 2025
** Drugmaker Telix Pharmaceuticals TLX.AX and pharmacy-operator Sigma Healthcare SIG.AX jump up to 4.7% each
** Sector improvement to be "underpinned by long-term drivers of an aging population, prevalence of chronic disease and the defensive nature of healthcare", Jefferies says
** AXHJ sub-index gained 6% in 2024
(Reporting by Aaditya Govind Rao in Bengaluru)
((Aaditya.govindrao@thomsonreuters.com;))
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