January 2, 2018 7:44am
It will be interesting to see many company “CEOs in regalia and their entourages” base their communication in hope of breaking through to the JPM investing crowd
… And then there are the retreating crusades of meetings of the non-invited that are basically kumbaya meetings that gather around to discuss how “pricing” applies
The keen ears will be listening with the reports emanating from the break-out sessions;
… CEOs better start understanding that an investor populism revolt has been created by the lack of transparency, guidance and deficiency of shareholder directed communication
… This will be a year of “Delivering the Goods” or watch your share price ratchet while looking for a new gig!
Start the year out right, talk to the social media financial “stars” who clear the airways so investors can take a cleansing breathe (list is in the body of the message)
… Forget the headline writers and focus who delivers a BUY or a SELL with a price point!
Higher open expected
Dow futures are UP +17% (+40 points) and NASDAQ futures are UP +0.18% (+11.25 points)
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Tuesday, as investors wait what the coming year could bring for markets.
European markets were lower, as autos stocks fell and investors continued to monitor geopolitical unrest in Iran
Asian indexes closed mostly higher in the first trading session of the New Year as markets shrugged off the softer lead from Wall Street. Greater China markets shone, with Hong Kong's benchmark index climbing to its highest levels in more than 10 years in the session while the dollar struggled near its lowest levels in three months.
Issues that will affect the trading day: investors will be keeping a close eye on positive momentum
Data docket: manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data is due out at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Issues on the political front: with little economic news set to shake up sentiment, investors will be looking to the latest in geopolitics and commodities.
Henry’omics:
From Friday night’s closing bell post, “what’s pulling the sector along - apathy and a yawn as equities opened higher but struggled to hold opening gains, closing down on the last trading day of the year, who what and which scenario can trust chasing a pricing “fix”? “
In a last remark from 1/29/17, may the trade be with you in the New Year.”
The danger of the year we are in: volatility, news flow and the overflow of trial issue, enrollments and setting the bar too low for a threshold to be met re real and illuminating clinical data
The cell therapy sector’s record over 5 sessions (of 40 covered companies): The RegMed and cell therapy sector closed NEGATIVE on Thursday, POSITIVE on Wednesday and Tuesday, was closed on Monday and NEGATIVE last Friday:
· Monday was NEW Year’s day;
· Friday closed NEGATIVE with 25 decliners, 14 advancers and 1 flat;
· Thursday closed NEGATIVE with 20 decliners, 15 advancers and 5 flats;
· Wednesday closed POSITIVE with 17 decliners, 20 advancers and 3 flats;
· Last Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 16 decliners, 22 advancers and 2 flats
Today’s indications:
The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB) is NOT indicating in Tuesday’s pre-market;
The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) is indicating NOT in Tuesday’s pre-market;
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is NOT indicating in Tuesday’s pre-open;
The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) is indicating a POSITIVE +0.18% in Tuesday’s pre-open
Preaching to the faithful and those who aren’t:
Worried about in 2018 (?), think five (5) things …
Cash positions … WHO need to “tap” the capital markets for continued survival …
How are enrollments going as to population and are they sustainable re drop-outs?
Has the data from on-going trials been construed as to render measureable and definitive outcomes?
A key to sustainability will be partnering to ward-off the issues of dilution and share depreciation!
And finally, does the current CEO have the staying power to withstand their past mistakes and take our investments to the next stage – 2018?
There is also going to be more than a lot of visibility and exposure of board of director related activities to measure their performance as to fulfillment of fiduciary responsibilities can or will they meet them?
Companies in my scope:
I will wait to see the momentum and volume from the first hours and day and the match the week!
The key will to NOT chase the tape this week, be cool and wait for the shot; you DO NOT want a “pink mist”
The oversold:
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM)
Fate Therapeutics (FATE)
Histogenics (HSGX)
Juno Therapeutics (JUNO)
Verastem (VSTM)
Mesoblast (MESO)
MiMedx (MDXG)
Sangamo (SGMO)
The overbought:
Athersys (ATHX) – needs a financing
Brainstorm Cell therapy (BCLI)
Cesca Therapeutic (KOOL) – a perpetual state of hype
BioLife Solutions (BLFS) – still selling juice
Capricor (CAPR) needs a financing
The shareholder depreciators – “fleecing” shareholders should NOT be part of this universe:
Biostage (BSTG)
Cytori (CYTX)
Fibrocell (FCSC)
ImmunoCellular (IMUC)
Neuralstem (CUR)
Osiris (OSIR)
Northwest Bio (NWBO)
The movers and shakers – here is always something hjappening:
bluebird bio (BLUE)
Regenxbio (RGNX) always the comeback kid
Spark Therapeutics (ONCE)
Those who haven’t found there footing:
Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS)
Pluristem (PSTI)
VistaGen (VTGN)
Stuck – who is watching this scattered flock has no sheep dogs:
Asterias Biotherapeutics (AST)
BioTime (BTX)
Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC)
Aduro BioTech (ADRO)
Adverum (ADVM)
Organovo Holdings (ONVO)
Opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change, and not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, nor investment advice.
Whether information or intelligence is good, bad or somewhere in between; I put into context what is relevant and useful for investors. All investments are subject to risks. Investors should consider investment objectives.
Henry McCusker, the editor and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication.
