November 9, 2018 6:03pm

It helps if met in very few cases and destroys in many others

Pre-open indications: 2 HITs and 3 MISS

Quarterly (Q3) results: Asterias Biotherapeutics (NYSE American: AST -$0.02) reported a loss of $4.5 M or -$0.08 per share while posting revenue of $116 K. AST closed at $1.30; a year ago, they were trading at $2.45. On 11/7/18, AST entered into a merger agreement to become a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc. (NYSE American) and each outstanding share of common stock of Asterias not already owned by BTX will be converted into 0.71 common shares of BTX.  The transaction is expected to close during Q1/19.

Crispers get fried again: CRSP -$1.33, EDIT -$1.03 and NTLA -$0.56; I kept telling many, they had become trading vehicles.

 

Who is defining the metrics for individual investors?

Are the facts so hard to fathom, there is a LACK of CONFIDENCE and CONVICTION in “our” universe’s journey through the market’s cycle!

I stay INDEPENDENT to give investors the “facts as placed in evidence” which seems to be MY byline! Keep your portfolio in the play – you should be a subscriber … you would be reading this now!

 

Daily analytics and metrics:

  • The Dow closed down -201.92 points or -0.77% to 25,989.30
  • The S&P closed down -25.82 points or -0.92% to 2,781.01
  • The NASDAQ closed down – 123.98 points or -1.65% to 7,406.90

 

From the pre-open newsletter, “… getting a handle of volatility, not this week; quarterly reporting “spin” harms shareholder value. How damaging are Q3 LPS (loss-per-share) releases? Some companies are placed in post reporting purgatory.”

 

The advance/decline line scenario of 45 covered companies:   

  • The open was negative with an A/DL of 8/36 and 1 flat;
  • The mid-day was negative with an A/DL of 5/39 and 1 flat;
  • The close was negative with an A/DL of 6/39 and 0 flat;

 

Pre-open indications: 2 HITs and 3 MISS

  • Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC) closed down -$0.31 – miss;
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS) closed up +$1.66 – hit;
  • CRISPER Therapeutics (CRSP) closed down -1.33 – miss;
  • Verastem (VSTM) closed down -$0.21 – miss;
  • Vericel VCEL) closed down -$0.49 – hit;

 

Five (5) key metrics: 

… Greatest volume to the downside:  MDXG, SGMO, XON, VSTM and HSGX

… Upside volume was weighted to:  VYGR, BLFS, ADVM, MESO and PSTI

… Weakness ($) to the downside:  BLUE (-$6.09), ONCE (-$3.24), BMRN (-$2.87), RGNX (-$2.60) and SGMO (-$2.47)

… Best moves ($) to the upside:  BLFS (+$1.66), RENE.L (+$0.50), MESO (+$0.19), ADVM (+$0.02) and PSTI (+$0.01)

… The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) closed:

  • Friday was down -2.21% after indicating a POSITIVE +0.08% in the pre-market;
  • Thursday was down -0.77% after NOT indicating in the pre-market;
  • Wednesday was up +2.3% after NOT indicating in the pre-market;
  • Tuesday was up +0.44% after NOT indicating in the pre-market;
  • Monday was down -0.06% after indicating a positive +0.13% in the pre-market;
  • Last Friday was up +0.03% after indicating a negative -0.06% in the pre-market;

 

Henry’omics:

Sector equities fell on Friday as quarterly losses fragmented share pricing sparked fears of yet another shake down, but the major indexes still managed solid weekly gains.

A "bullypupit" or honesty in facts with bottom-line objectivity involved ...

  • My beginning month “sucker’s bet financing call of HSGX has come to fruition - dived again on Friday -$0.03 to $0.51 after Thursday’s -$0.54, Wednesday’s -$0.54, Tuesday’s $0.56 and Monday’s $0.55 - still going nowhere;
  • Monday’s sell call of BLUE with Friday’s -$6.09 after Thursday’s -$1.25, Wednesday’s -$1.24 to $133.67 - ringing true;
  • Tuesday’s ATHX – SELL call posting re the reporting and Helios deal negations ATHX -$0.04 to $1.87 after -$0.07 on Thursday after Wednesday’s -$0.08 to $1.96) didn’t go UNHEEDED and on TARGET!
  • While BOLD advanced dived -$0.93 after Thursday’s +$0.70, Wednesday’s -$5.33 to $24.23 and missed expectation;
  • SAGE took a big hit on Friday -$1.89 after fulfilling my BUY call up +$2.84 – which faded;
  • GBT fell again -$0.90 after Thursday’s -$0.90, Wednesday’s +$2.05 to $41.69 after Tuesday’s $39.64 and Monday’s $38.52 - it had beat expectation
  • I had been FRETTING about VCEL’s upside journey (Friday was down -$0.49 after Thursday’s -$0.49 after Wednesday’s +$0.44 ($17.09) and Tuesday’s +$5.11 ($16.65) from Monday’s $11.54 – RIGHT again, reminded me of the Icarus’ myth!
  • CLBS closed down -$0.62 after Thursday’s +$0.32 before reporting Q3 after Wednesday’s -$0.10 to $4.89, 10/31 saw $4.67 – having seen a low of $4.29 and a high of $5.77. CLBS reported a net loss of $3.5 M, or $0.36 per share, compared with $3.5 M, or $0.38 per share and … I will admit I was WRONG as R&D and SG&A decreased in Q3 …
  • I also believe (*MY opinion*) continues to be realized as Biostage (BSTG) on Friday TRIPPED  -$0.44 with 112 shares traded – so much interest in the company <sarcasm>) after Thursday’s -$0.11 to $3.20. BSTG is still a ship that has “listed and ready to sink”  that was mismanaged as well as being untruthful about their internal management issues and CMO conditions and unaware of financing effects to PAST shareholders and FOUNDING stakeholders – let’s not forget the terminal death suit!
  • CUR (-$0.01 to $0.546) and KOOL (-$0.0039) both ought to be flushed away – I’ll DROP them at month’s end!

 

Percentage indicators:

  • Review the range of the 6 upside from +0.04% (VYGR) to +13.52% (BLFS) while the 39  downside ranged from -0.64% (FIXX) to -18.53% (XON) with 0 flat closes.

Decreasing volume stat:

  • 3 out of 6 of the upside had higher (than the 3 month average) volume
  • 10 out of the 39 downside experienced greater volume (than the 3 month average).

 

November sessions:

Friday closed NEGATIVE with 39 decliners, 6 advancers and 0 flat;

Thursday closed NEGATIVE with 26 decliners, 19 advancers and 1 flat;

Wednesday closed POSITIVE with 12 decliners, 32 advancers and 1 flat;

Tuesday closed NEGATIVE with 22 decliners, 21 advancers and 2 flats;

Monday closed NEGATIVE with 35 decliners, 7 advancers and 3 flats;

Friday closed POSITIVE with 20 decliners, 22 advancers and 3 flats;

Thursday (11/1) closed POSITIVE with 3 decliners, 42 advancers and 0 flat;

  • In 23 sessions in October – there were 17 negative closes and 6 positive closes
  • In 19 sessions in September – there were 10 negative closes and 9 positive close;
  • In 21 August sessions – 6 had negative and 15 had positive closes

 

 

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.