May 22, 2017 8:21am

 

… The sector is littered with a number of also rans

And is vulnerable to more uncertainties than many sectors

 

Companies need to cross the Rubicon of considering their relationship with investors especially the retail contingent

As many fund managers can’t make the investment, say $5.00 twice

 

Higher open expected

Companies in my headlights:  two (2), 0 BUYS and 2 SELLS

 

Critical information ahead of “our” universe’s open! I provide intelligence and analysis for short and near-term investment.

 


 

 

Dow futures are UP +0.15% and NASDAQ futures are UP +0.12%

 

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Monday as President Donald Trump tours the Middle East on his first foreign trip.

European markets were hovering around the flatline as investors digested a multi-billion dollar merger in the chemicals industry and President Donald Trump's first overseas visit.

Asian equities traded mostly higher, following the continued recovery on Wall Street last week and as investors digest yet another missile test out of North Korea during the weekend.

 

Data docket: NONE

 

 

The cell therapy sector closed POSITIVE on Friday and Thursday, NEGATIVE on Wednesday, POSITIVE on Tuesday and last Monday

The cell therapy sector’s record after the last 5 days (of 43 covered companies):

·         Friday closed POSITIVE with 15 decliners, 26 advancers and 2 flat;

·         Thursday closed POSITIVE with 13 decliners, 25 advancers and 5 flats;

·         Wednesday closed NEGATIVE with 38 decliners, 5 advances and 0 flats;

·         Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 19 decliners, 23 advancers and 1 flat;

·         Last Monday closed POSITIVE with 12 decliners, 27 advancers and 4 flats;

 

 

Remembering Friday’s closing bell newsletter, “kissing- up to the fundamentals we stand with as the sector gripped the handrail to stay up … Let’s stop staring at the wall of worry and jump or climb over.”

  • Reiterating, “I keep writing about sentiment – it can’t be sustained without positive pricing … The word for the second quarter must be sustainability!”

After a dog show performed in the street versus Madison Square Market volatility and sector pricing are doing the big cycle around the arena.

  • Unless pricing responds, many opportunities are lost sucking investor cash from funds and perception of certain investments.

This rough and tough sector has it a dry patch that keeps the buy-the-dip crowd coming running to the sidelines.

  • It might have been feeling good when investor holdings matched funds – but, that’s the way it works out or, it doesn’t.

have a feeling today – it won’t!

 

 

What did I see on Friday, the DOW closed up +0.69% (+141.82) and The NASDAQ closed UP + 0.47% (+28.57) while volatility traded at 12.2.

 

 

The count - gainers: look at the differences in the spreads and advance/decline lines – look at how the numbers define volatility:

  • Friday’s decliners ranged from -0.17% <BSTG> to -6.78% <BLUE> in 15 equities;
  • Thursday’s decliners ranged from -0.32% <KOOL> to -6.42% <AGTC> in 13 equities;
  • Wednesday’s decliners ranged from -0.47% <BLFS> to -9.23% <OSIR> in 39 equities;

While …

  • Friday’s gainers ranged from +0.01% <HSGX> to +10.66% <QURE> in 26 equities;
  • Thursday’s gainers ranged from +0.35% <MDXG> to +16.46% <CUR> in 25 equities;
  • Wednesday’s gainers ranged from +0.72% <AXGN> to +6.83% <ISCO> in 4 equities;

 

 

You’ve made it to the office, turned on the monitor, having just gotten your coffee and it hits you - what could be today’s trades? 

Watch list:

  • The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB) closed down -0.62% on Friday, and is indicating a negative -0.26% in Monday’s pre-market;
  • The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) closed Friday down -1.23%, and is NOT indicating in Monday pre-market;
  • The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) closed up +0.28% Friday, and is NOT indicating in Monday’s pre-open;
  • The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) closed up +0.48% on Friday, the aftermarket indication was -0.04% and is indicating a negative -0.02% in Monday’s pre-open

 

 

Companies in my headlights:

uniQure (QURE) closed up +$0.55 to $5.71. It’s been a good week starting at $5.05 to $5.71, the previous week ended at $4.09 and started at $4.83 while the month started at $5.46. A lot of fluctuation in a speculative sector and a volatile market gets me nervous – SELL;

Sangamo (SGMO) closed down -$0.15 to $7.80 following Thursday’s $7.95 (+$0.50) after Wednesday’s $7.45 (-$0.55), Tuesday’s $8.00 and last Monday’s $8.40 post the previous Friday’s $8.20. The aftermarket indication is a positive +$0.125 or +1.62% – BUY to SELL;

 

 

Whether information or intelligence is good, bad or somewhere in between; I put into context what is relevant and useful for investors.

Henry McCusker, the editor and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication.

Henry’s comments are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for personalized advice. Consult your advisor about what is best for you.