March 15, 2018 7:32am

It had been a deadline in olden times for settling debts. In 44 BC, it became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Although a non-threatening event, it has been made to seem as though the day itself is cursed and that’s never good news

 

Companies in my headlights: 1 SELL and 3 BUYs

Q4 and FY17 results: AST, BTX and HSGX

 

Out and about: Histogenics (HSGX) reported a Q4/17 loss of $6.1 million or $0.26 per share after reporting a profit in Q4/16. For FY17, HSGX reported that its loss widened to $22.5 million, or $0.99 per share. HSGX’s shares closed at $3.04. A year ago, they were trading at $1.78.

 

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Mixed to positive open expected


 

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Dow futures are UP +0.13% (+33 points) and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.09% (-6 points)

 

U.S. stock index futures posted slight gains ahead of Thursday's open

European equities are higher

Asian markets closed mixed, with some stock indexes shrugging off early losses as trade-related developments in the U.S. were in focus.

 

Issues to be faced at the open: investors are trying to shake off concerns surrounding global trade.

Data docket: At 8:30 a.m. ET, jobless claims, and import prices are due, along with the Empire State manufacturing survey and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey. At 10 a.m. ET the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index is slated to come out, followed by Treasury International Capital (TIC) data at 4 p.m. ET.

 

 

Been where, done what …

RegMed, stem, gene and cell therapy sector’s record over 5 sessions (of 40 covered companies):

  • Wednesday closed NEGATIVE with 21 decliners, 18 advancers and 1 flat;
  • Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 16 decliners, 19 advancers and 5 flats;
  • Monday closed NEGATIVE with 22 decliners, 16 advancers and 2 flat;
  • Friday closed POSITIVE with 17 decliners, 21 advancers and 2 flats;
  • Last Thursday closed NEGATIVE with 22 decliners, 17 advancers and 1 flat;

 

 

Henry’omics:

From last night’s newsletter, “what started up ended with another slip and fall. The algorithms are “ruling” as volatility is the norm affecting negative sentiment. The technical undercurrent of the sector persists.”

More Q4 and FY17 financial results are due, can’t say “earnings” as there are NOT any as loss-per-share results further appease the downward announcement season other than “flukes” such as Capricor (CAPR).

My concern is the low volume and the pricing volatility it causes!

 

 

Today’s indications:

  • The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB) is NOT indicating in Thursday’s pre-market;
  • The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) is NOT indicating in Thursday’s pre-market;
  • The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is NOT indicating in Thursday’s pre-open;
  • The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) is indicating a NEGATIVE -0.03% downside in Thursday’s pre-open

 

 

Companies in my headlights:

AxoGen (AXGN) closed up +$0.35 to $35.70 with 193.7 K shares traded <3 month average = 304.1 shares> after Tuesday’s +$0.70 at $35.15 with 165.4 K shares traded.  February ended at $29.20 while January opened at $27.95 but, March opened at $33.95 with a high of $35.35 and a low of $32.60. Chart could beckon traders to take a profit – Maintaining SELL;

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM) closed up +$0.14 to $8.22 after Tuesday’s +$0.05 to $8.08 after Monday’s -$0.12 to $8.03 and has a pre-market indication of +$0.86 or +11.96% on Monday’s news of interim clinical data of BPX-501 in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) pushed the upside after the U.S> hold. The aftermarket indication is a positive +$0.28 or +3.41% – Maintaining BUY;

Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR) closed up +$0.02 to $1.81 after Tuesday’s -$0.09 to $1.79 with 206.7 K shares traded <3 month average = 526.5 K shares>. CAPR “experienced” a net income of $ and per share after CIRM forgave a $15.7 million loan. The aftermarket indication is a positive +$0.09 or +4.97% - SELL to BUY;

Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed down -$0.99 to $12.07. Oversold after Monday’s $13.06, last Friday’s $13.17 and the previous Thursday’s $12.83 and Wednesday’s $13.45.  The aftermarket indication is a positive +$0.12 or +1.08% - Oversold, BUY;

 

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.