Abbott Laboratories (ABT) led drug stocks into positive territory early Wednesday as shares of the conglomerate gained in the wake of a positive third-quarter earnings report. The NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index ($DRG) climbed 0.5% to 291.23 as the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index ($BTK) rose 1% to 914.04. Shares of Abbott were up almost 2% at $50.44.

-Val Brickates Kennedy; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com