March 18, 2019 4:57pm

“The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight”

“Where is the thatched-roofed” portfolio and HOW far away is it and WHY can’t we see it

Forget the view; survival is tied to autonomy and control

 

Pre-open indications: 1 HIT

Proposed IPO: A majority-owned subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (XON), AquaBounty Technologies (AQB)  

 

Review the snapshot of the daily ‘workings” of the sector composite of cell and gene therapy companies.

That’s why my “quantamental” blend of styles; must become the “tool” for investors and traders to portfolio enrichment.

 

Markets and indexes:

  • The Dow closed up +65.57 points or +0.25% to 25,914.44
  • The S&P closed up+10.46 points or +0.37% to 2,832.94
  • The NASDAQ was up +25.95 points or +0.34% to 7,714.48

 

Henry’omics:

Investors are preparing for a busy week as the Fed begins its two-day monetary policy meeting on Tuesday. Market expectations for a rate hike are at zero, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool. However, investors will look for clues about the central bank’s economic outlook <CNBC>.

Sector equities rose on Monday while investors braced for a busy week highlighted by a key Federal Reserve meeting.

Hey <hay is for horses> yet the S&P 500 is up 13% this year and is on pace to post its biggest quarterly gain since Q3/09.

  • Sector equities posted Monday’s gains were led by: RENE.L (+$6.00), QURE (+$2.43), BLFS (+$1.81), FIXX (+$1.42), IONS (+$0.98) and RGNX (+$0.84)
  • Crashing on Monday was: BLUE (-$1.87), SAGE (-$1.31), ALNY (-$1.19), and BMRN (-$1.17) as MANY came OFF their lows pre-close;

Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS) continues its decline -$0.18 – once an ATM goes into being, shareholders are being screwed;

Athersys (ATHX) closed up +$0.02 to $1.53. Where has it been and where is it going having started the year at $1.48 as compared to 3/19/18’s $1.89;

BioLife Solutions (BLFS) closed up +$1.81 to $20.51 after Q4 and FY18 NET income will be a darling but, for how long?

bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$1.87 to $156.17 and still feeling the pain of fluctuation and low volume although it saw a low of $138.83 (3/8) having started March at $156.66, February 1 at $134.63 and January 2’s $99.50 – many are still in the money ;

BioTime (NYSE American: BTX) is slipping -$0.10 to $1.63 after their acquisition of Asterias (NYSE American: AST) – their real value has yet to be realized;

Stemline Therapeutics (STML) closed down -$0.72 to $12.90 after an I-Bank’s Strong BUY;

Verastem Oncology (VSTM closed up +$0.27 to $3.38; finally we are seeing upside after a bumpy ride since 3/1’s $3.10 after 3/8’s low of $2.79, 2/1’s $3.22 and 1/2’s $3.61;

The Crispers:

  • CRSP closed down -$0.76, followed by
  • EDIT closing down -$0.32 and
  • NTLA closing up +$0.02 – they are STILL stuck as trading vehicles;

Mesoblast (MESO) is showing renewed strength closing up +$0.79 to $5.17 with solid volume of 339.9 K shares (3 month average =45.6 K shares> ;

 

Pre-open post, “this market’s timing and short-termism is all rolled into one; It’s tricky to pin down value during “earnings” season or as I say with LPS (loss-per-share) pricing … Which impedes investor’s view of where share pricing is going following all the fluctuation?”

 

A majority-owned subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (XON):

AquaBounty Technologies (AQB) a biotechnology company focused on enhancing productivity in the aquaculture market and today announced that it has commenced a proposed underwritten public offering of common stock. In addition, AQB expects to grant the underwriter of the offering a 45-day option to purchase additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the sole book-running manager for this offering.

 

The advance/decline line scenario of 45 covered companies:  

  • The open was positive with the A/DL to 29/12 and 4 flats;
  • The mid-day was negative with an A/DL of 20/22 and  flats;
  • The 3 p.m. time frame saw a positive swing in the A/DL of 25/19 and 1 flats;
  • The close was positive with an A/DL of 30/12 and 3 flats;

 

Pre-open indications: 1 HIT

ReNeuron (RENE.L) closed up +$6.00 – hit;

 

Tonight’s percentage (%) indicators: 

  • Range of the 27 upside was +0.12% (NTLA) to +18.49% (MESO) while the 17 downside ranged from -0.10% (OSIR) to -5.78% (BTX).

Volume stat: 

  • 13 out of the 27 upside had higher (than the 3 month average) volume
  • 5 out of the 17 downside experienced greater volume (than the 3 month average)

Acquired: 1 (AST)

 

The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) indicator:

  • Monday was down -0.31% after NOT indicating;
  • Friday was up +1.07% after indicating a positive +0.26% in the pre-market;
  • Thursday was down -0.22% after indicating;
  • Wednesday was up +1.31% after indicating;
  • Tuesday was up +0.82% after NOT indicating;
  • Last Monday was up +2.14% after indicating a NEGATIVE -0.49% in the pre-market;

 

March sessions:

Monday closed POSITIVE with 17 decliners, 27 advancers and 1 acquired;

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

Thursday closed NEGATIVE with 30 decliners, 13 advancers and 2 flats;

Wednesday closed POSITIVE with 12 decliners, 30 advancers and 3 flats;

Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 13 decliners, 30 advancers and 2 flats;

Monday closed POSITIVE with 7 decliners, 37 advancers and 1 flat;

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

Thursday closed POSITIVE with 14 decliners, 29 advancers and 2 flats;

Wednesday closed NEGATIVE with 39 decliners, 5 advancers and 1 flat;

Tuesday (3/4) closed POSITIVE with 17 decliners, 23 advancers and 5 flats;

Monday (3/1) closed NEGATIVE with 24 decliners, 18 advancers and 3 flats;

Friday (3/1) closed POSITIVE with 11 decliners, 32 advancers and 2 flats;

 

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.