March 15, 2018 5:52pm
… As the sector opened neutral, then dived through the mid-day and closed to the downside
Some sector encouragement is needed to drive sentiment as yesterday’s good news like Athersys (ATHX -$0.09) and uniQure (QURE) drooped today while Capricor (CAPR +$0.03) tipped with today’s HSGX (-$0.14), BTX (-$0.23) and AST ($0.00) stays flat
All we are getting is ebb and flow
Out and about: Asterias Biotherapeutics’ (NYSEMKT: AST) net loss was $6.5 million, or $0.12 per share, for Q4 and $28.4 million, or $0.56 per share, for FY17 – the aftermarket is up +$0.05. BioTime’s (NYSEMKT: BTX) net loss was $71.9 million, or $0.58 per share, for FY17, the net loss was $20 million, or $0.17 per share with an aftermarket of +$0.01. Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$16.99 plunged after the maker of muscular-dystrophy treatments announced a clinical trial had been put on hold, its stock ended down 64.58%.
Companies in my pre-open headlights: 2 HITs and 2 MISS
I make a commitment to provide need-to-know “facts in evidence” as equity’s volatility is one tactical signal for stocks.
Interpretation, insight and translation with an end-of-day recap of the sessions impact, settlement with an opinion of what could or should happen next thrown in.
Henry’omics:
From the pre-open’s newsletter, “… the Ides of March is here; 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.”
Investors received another indication of downward sentiment as AST, BTX and HSGX answer the calls of Q4 and FY17 “numbers”.
Reiterating, as a bluebird bio (BLUE -$6.44) upside “denier” - that is one who thinks it’s time for a decline – I am validated - AGAIN, sticking to MY thesis.
Volume is still LOW on Thursday …
Q4 and FY17 releases still point to the downside but, we are closer to the end of the cycle.
The sector was a loser – AGAIN but, it was much worse at the mid-day, closing to the downside.
The advance/decline line scenario of 40 covered companies:
- The open was neutral with the A/DL to 18/18 and 4 flats;
- The mid-day was negative with an A/DL of 13/24 and 3 flats;
- The close was negative with an A/DL of 11/27 and 2 flat;
Companies in my headlights:
- AxoGen (AXGN) closed up +$1.40 – miss;
- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM) closed down -$0.15 – miss;
- Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR) closed up +$0.03 – hit;
- Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed up +$0.14 – hit;
MY working trend lines:
… The greatest volume to the downside: MDXG, IMUC, SGMO, ATHX and BTX
… Upside volume was weighted to: ADVM, XON, NWBO, FCSC and ADRO
… Biggest $ downside: BLUE (-$5.55), RGNX (-$2.00), SGMO (-$1.35), STML (-$1.25) and QURE (-$0.64)
… Largest $ upside: AXGN (+$1.40), ADVM (+$0.25), FATE (+$0.14), AGTC (+$0.10) and XON (+$0.06)
… Flat: AST and RENE.L
Daily analytics:
The S&P 500 fell for a fourth session Thursday, marking its worst string of losses so far this year, as worries about an escalating trade war overshadowed robust economic data; as the Dow snapped a three-day losing streak.
- The S&P 500 index slid 2.15 points to 2,747.33.
- The Dow rose 115.54 points, or 0.5%, to 24,873.66.
- The NASDAQ fell 15.07 points, or 0.2%, to 7,481.74.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market,
- Thursday traded at 16.59, down -3.71% …
- Wednesday traded at 17.23, up +5.38%
- Tuesday traded at 16.43, up +4.12%
- Monday traded 15.78, up +78.79%
- Friday traded at 14.64, down -11.49%
- Last Thursday traded at 16.54, down -6,87%
The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) indicated:
- Thursday was down -0.49%
- Wednesday -0.46%
- Tuesday -0.43%
- Monday +0.18%
- Friday +1.57%
- Last Thursday -0.22%
The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) indicated:
- Thursday was down -0.98%
- Wednesday -0.12%
- Tuesday -0.71%
- Monday +0.32%
- Friday +1.55%
- Last Thursday +0.73%
The count - decliners versus gainers:
……. look at the differences in decliners:
- Thursday’s decliners ranged from -0-.28% < CLLS -$0.10> to -9.35% <IMUC -$0.026 > in 27 equities;
- Wednesday’s decliners ranged from -0.15% <RGNX -$0.05> to -11.42% <IMUC -$0.036> in 21 equities;
- Tuesday’s decliners ranged from -0.62% <NWBO -$0.00> to -4.16% <BLUE -$9.70> in 16 equities;
- Monday’s decliners ranged from -0.30% <MESO -$02> to -3.03% <VCEL -$0.35> in 21 equities;
- Friday’s decliners ranged from -0.74% <BTX -$0.02> to -7.22% <AGTC -$0.35> in 17 equities;
- Last Thursday’s decliners ranged from -0.12% <BLCM -$0.01> to -8.67% <VTGN -$0.13> in 22 equities;
Versus
… Look at the percentage’s (%) and spreads …
- Thursday’s gainers ranged from +0.31% <NWBO +0.001> to +7.02% <FCSC +$0.04> in 11 equities;
- Wednesday’s gainers ranged from +0.60% <VSTM +$0.02> to +11.18% <CLLS +3.54> in 18 equities;
- Tuesday’s gainers ranged from +0.62% <CYTX +$0.002> to +2.03% <AXGN +$0.70> in 19 equities;
- Monday’s gainers ranged from +0.47% <BLUE +$1.10> to +3.43% <ADRO +$0.30> in 16 equities;
- Friday’s gainers ranged from +0.65% <ISCO +$0.01> to +10.76% <ADRO +$0.85> in 21 equities;
- Last Thursday’s gainers ranged from +0.24% <BLUE +$0.55> to +6.67% <ADRO +$0.50> in 17 equities;
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.
