July 18, 2018 4:54pm

I might not always be right but, I am more than usually early and on target as I maintain my SELL on gene editing equities!

 

Pre-open indications: 5 HIT and 0 MISS

Out and about: gene editing companies CRSP (-$2.84), EDIT (-$1.25), NTLA (-$0.56) dive again as management responses were weak – few words and even short sentences which did not seem to connect – bottom line, the stocks dropped again! Other equites falling with comments …

 

I say today what others won’t, so you can do what others can’t!

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Henry’omics:

 

A disruptive and unexpected NATURE (by-the-way, the third) article harmed shareholders and where was the defense?

  • Editas spokesperson Cristi Barnett told BioCentury via email that Editas is “aware of, and not specifically concerned” with the findings. "We’ve been thinking about this topic all along," she said, adding that preclinical work for the company's therapies has included "coupling the molecular identification of genomic repair events with appropriate and thorough pre-clinical safety experiments."
  • Intellia said in a statement regarding the paper: "We also perform our sequencing analytics using a more inclusive technique than the method used" in Monday's paper.
  • Intellia SVP of Innovative Sciences Tom Barnes told BioCentury that the company has "instituted sufficient methods to detect events of this type," therefore no changes to Intellia's genomic screening process are necessary.
  • CRISPR Therapeutics VP of Investor Relations and External Affairs Chris Erdman told BioCentury, "CRISPR won't be changing its screening methods."

 

Who is fooling whom - in my past if there was an issue PR/IR - the key was to get-out-in-front of it to control the rhetoric and fow of information!

In this case ... that was it!

What are they - gene editing companies HIDING?

 

From the pre-open newsletter titled, “there are just too many inclines on low volume which attracts downside trading and profit taking.

I also stated, “It’s not the first time, they (gene editing companies) have taken a hit on published articles – Investors SHOULDN’T ignore these concerns.”

Wednesday, what has speculation born: gene editing stocks dumped: Editas Medicine (EDIT -$1.08 or -2.96%), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$3.48 or -5.61%) and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$0.36 or -1.15%) …

Tuesday, gene editing stocks high jumped in response to their dramatic decline: Editas Medicine (EDIT +$1.26 or +3.58%) with 606.79 K shares traded, CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$1.95 or +3.25%) with 787.9 K shares traded and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$2.00 or +6.81%) with 637.4 K shares traded …

Monday, gene editing stocks dropped like stones in a lake: Editas Medicine (EDIT -$2.70 or -7.21%) with 1.52 M shares traded <3 month average = 1.52 M, CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP -$5.65 or -8.60%) with 2.83 M shares traded <3 month average = 1.55 M shares> and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$3.24 or -9.94%) with 1.33 m shares traded <3 month average = 928.4 K shares> …

As I had stated, “After lower volume, a quick rebound post a steep decline … makes one think another SELL “plague” is in store?  There was …!

 

Of the 45 companies covered on Wednesday; 30 downside equities finished in a range of -$0.02 (ATHX) to -$3.50 (RENE.L) while the 13 upside equities oscillated from +$0.0006 (KOOL) to $3.10 (ALNY) with 2 flat closes.

 

The advance/decline line scenario of 45 covered companies:   

  • The open was negative with an A/DL of 13/31 and 1 flats;
  • The mid-day was negative with an A/DL of 13/32 and 0 flat;
  • The close was negative with an A/DL of 13/30 and 2 flats;

 

Pre-open indications: 5 hit and 0 miss

  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS) closed down -$0.25 – hit;
  • bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$1.85 – hit;
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) closed down -$3.48 – hit;
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) closed down -$0.36 – hit;
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT) closed down -$1.08 – hit;

 

Out and about:  

Biostage (BSTG) – in my OPINION, a “den of thieves” closed down again another -$0.20 after Tuesday’s -$0.06 after Monday’s -$0.51 drop … when will they come “clean” on their pre- pre-clinical status and their share ownership position?

bluebird bio (BLUE) was oversold dropping -$1.85 after Tuesday’s +$4.10 and Monday’s +$0.30 …

BioLife Solutions (BLFS) for all its “bluster” about the share price heads back to the toilet - $0.25 after Tuesday’s -$0.55 …

Vericel (VCEL) also feels the trading “Charmin” dropping -$0.30 to $9.93 after Tuesday’s $10.30 after Monday’s $9.25 …

 

MY working trend (5 largest) lines:

… The greatest volume to the downside:  VCEL, XON, CRSP, BMRN, ADVM and EDIT

… Upside volume was weighted to:  MDXG. VSTM, SGMO, GBT and BTX

… Biggest $ downside:  RENE.L (-$3.50), CRSP (-$3.48), ONCE (-$1.99), BLUE (-$1.85), and QURE (-$1.72)

… Best moves to the $ upside: ALNY (+$3.10), BOLD (+$1.12), GBT (+$0.95), SLDB (+$0.94), IONS (+$0.68) and

 … Flats:  STML and CUR

 

The weekly count - decliners versus gainers – looks at the view from different angles:

……. look at the differences in decliners:

  • Wednesday’s decliners ranged from -0.13% <RGNX -$0.10 > to -8.59% <VYGR -$1.71 > in 30 equities;
  • Tuesday’s decliners ranged from -11% < KOOL -$0.0529> to -0.36% <IONS -$0.16 > in 13 equities;
  • Monday’s decliners ranged from -0.25% <RARE -$0.21> to -12.85% <BSTG -$0.51> in 32 equities;
  • Friday’s decliners ranged from -0.39% <BOLD -$0.15 > to -10.34% <VCEL -$1.05 > in 17 equities;
  • Thursday’s decliners ranged from -2.17% <ONVO -$0.03 > to -7.94% <RGNX -$6.45 > in 19 equities;
  • Last Wednesday’s decliners ranged from -0.08% <QURE -$0.03 > to -7.56% <FIXX -$1.70 > in 18 equities;

Versus

… Look at the percentage’s (%) and spreads …

  • Wednesday’s gainers ranged from +0.14% <KOOL+$0.0006> to +4.13% <BTX +$0.095 > in 13 equities;
  • Tuesday’s gainers ranged from +0.36% < SAGE +$0.61> to +12.69% < MESO +$0.76> in 29 equities;
  • Monday’s gainers ranged from +0.19% <SAGE +$0.32 > to +5.99% <KOOL +$0.027 > in 10 equities;
  • Friday’s gainers ranged from +0.07% < CLLS +$0.02> to +13.19% <CLBS +$0.72 > in 25 equities;
  • Thursday’s gainers ranged from +0.25% < BSTG +$0.01> to +3.20% <BMRN +$3.30> in 24 equities;
  • Last Wednesday’s gainers ranged from +0.08% <EDIT +$0.03> to +22.22% < RENE.L +$18.00> in 24 equities;

 

Daily analytics and metrics:

  • The Dow rose 73.77 points or +0.29% to 25,193.66
  • The S&P 500 climbed 5.73 points or +0.22% top 2,815.62
  • The NASDAQ closed -0.01% or 0.67 points lower to7, 854.44

 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market,

  • Wednesday traded at 11.94, down -1%
  • Tuesday traded at 12.66, down -6%
  • Monday traded at 12.83, up +5.34%
  • Friday traded at 12.18, down -3.18%
  • Thursday traded at 12.59, down -7.63 %
  • Last Wednesday traded at 13.63, up +7.83%

 

The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) closed:

  • Wednesday was up +0.28%;
  • Tuesday was up +0.43%;
  • Monday was down -0.40%;
  • Friday was down -0.26%;
  • Thursday was up +0.47%;
  • Last Wednesday was down -0.82%;

 

The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) closed:

  • Wednesday was down -0.09%
  • Tuesday was up +0.75%
  • Monday was down -0.73%
  • Friday was up +0.17%
  • Thursday was up +1.17%
  • Last Wednesday was down -0.29%

 

JULY sessions:

Wednesday closed NEGATIVE with 30 decliners, 13 advancers and 2 flat;

Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 13 decliners, 29 advancers and 3 flat;

Monday (7/16) closed NEGATIVE with 32 decliners, 10 advancers and 3 flat;

Friday closed POSITIVE with 17 decliners, 25 advancers and 3 flat;

Thursday closed POSITIVE with 19 decliners, 24 advancers and 2 flat;

Wednesday closed POSITIVE with 18 decliners, 24 advancers and 3 flat;

Tuesday closed NEGATIVE with 29 decliners, 15 advancers and 1 flat;

Monday (7/9) closed POSITIVE with 18 decliners, 22 advancers and 5 flat;

Friday closed POSITIVE with 8 decliners, 35 advancers and 2 flat;

Thursday closed POSITIVE with 18 decliners, 23 advancers and 4 flat;

Wednesday (7/4) was a holiday;

Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 9 decliners, 33 advancers and 3 flat;

Monday (7/2) closed POSITIVE with 15 decliners, 27 advancers and 3 flat;

 

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.