Abbott Labs (ABT, news, chart) is outperforming. The stock is up $1.53 to $58.96 and sentiment in the options market is bullish. 9,300 ABT calls and 1,800 puts have traded on the day. The September 60 and 62.5 calls are the most actives, with more than 90 percent of today’s volume hitting offerside. The reason for the gains in the shares and the uptick in call buying isn’t entirely clear. One item of interest: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is hitting a new 52-week high and stent makers Medtronic (MDT) and Boston Scientific (BSX) are also higher following a Reuters story that “Drug coated stents, sales of which tumbled two years ago on safety concerns, are becoming a more attractive prospect again–helped, in part, by lower prices.” Abbott is a new player in the multi-billion dollar stent business.