July 20, 2020 5:38pm

Pre-open indications: 1 MISS < BSTG - Manipulation? Be ready for the next version of the Biostage (BSTG) Chronicles, another worse than the previous)

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The Dow closed UP +8.92 points (+0.03%), the S&P closed UP +27.11 points (+0.84%) while the NASDAQ closed UP +263.90 points (+2.51%)

 

Pre-open indication results: 1 MISS < Biostage (BSTG +$0.10). Is stock being MANIPULATED as it was down -$0.50 on 300 shares traded, then -$0.01 on 1001 shares traded, down -$0.38 on 1201 shares traded and closed +$0.10 on 3,372? SEC and Mass Secretary of State – Enforcement Division take NOTE – might be worth more than a glance?

 

Henry’omics:

The Nasdaq was strengthen as Pfizer (PFE +$0.25 or +0.69%) and Germany’s BioNTech (BNTX +$2.95 or +3.46%) reported early positive data on a joint coronavirus vaccine candidate, saying the drug “elicited high, dose level-dependent SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing titers and RBD-binding IgG concentrations after the second dose.”

Another vaccine candidate from Oxford University and AstraZeneca (US: AZN -$0.08 or -0.14%) showed a positive immune response in an early trial.  

These announcements came after British pharmaceutical company Synairgen claimed that its new respiratory coronavirus treatment has reduced the number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients needing intensive care in a clinical trial. Its shares rose more than 350% on the European market.

  • Synairgen's (SNG-GBP) trial involved 220 subjects in the UK. Further analysis of the trial's results will take place over the coming weeks;
  • Synairgen's (SNG-GBP) stock traded at $190.00 per share as of Monday’s up +428.77%.
  • While Moderna (MRNA) closed down -$12.17 or -12.83%

Monday’s strong gain in tech shares came after the Nasdaq’s first negative week in three, while beaten-down value names outperformed in that time period.

 

RegMed/Cell and Gene therapy 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: progressions and regressions …

  • Monday opened positive at 21/11 and 3 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 23/11 and 1 flat, closing positive at 24/10 and 1 flat;
  • Friday opened positive at 22/11 and 2 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 22/12 and 1 flat, closing positive at 24/9 and 2 flats;

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was LOW with 6 of the 24-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume and 0 out of the 10-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 24-upside were +0.23% (VYGR) to +8.07% (FIXX) while the 10-downside ranged from -0.13% (IONS) to -4.98% (ADVM); 

 

Hammered in today’s market:

  • Adverum (ADVM), Regenxbio (RGNX), uniQure NV (QURE), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), Vericel (VCEL) to name 5 of the 10 declining of the 35 covered;

Jumping with share pricing momentum:

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), ReNeuron (RENE.L), Ultragenyx (RARE), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) to name 5 of the 24 trading up of 35 covered

 

The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) and the SPDR S&P ETF (XBI) indicators:

  • Monday, the IBB closed up +1.28% and XBI also closed up +1.36%
  • Friday, the IBB closed up +1.77% and XBI also closed up +2.10%

 

Monday’s (10 of 24 incliners:

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$7.13 after Friday’s+$2.33);
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$2.95 after Friday’s +$1.03);
  • ReNeuron (RENE.L +$2.50 after Friday’s-$3.25);
  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$2.03 after Friday’s +$0.89);
  • bluebird bio (BLUE +$1.31 after Friday’s -$0.39);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$1.45);
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$1.23 after Friday’s -$0.20);
  • Homology Medicine (FIXX +$1.23);
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI +$0.89 after Friday’s +$1.15);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS +$0.86);

Monday’s (10 of 10) decliners:

  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM -$0.91 after Friday’s +$0.76);
  • Regenxbio (RGNX -$0.37 after Friday’s +$0.41);
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$0.33 after Friday’s -$0.29);
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$0.29 after Friday’s +$1.94);
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.16 after Friday’s -$0.01):
  • AxoGen (AXGN -$0.11);
  • Athersys (ATHX -$0.10);
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.09);
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.08 after Friday’s -$0.04);
  • Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM -$0.05 after Friday’s +$0.66);

Closing flat: 1 - Stemline Therapeutics (STML – being acquired)

 

Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: look closely … notice percentage (%) movements are declining

  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 24-upside were +0.23% (VYGR) to +8.07% (FIXX) while the 10-downside ranged from -0.13% (IONS) to -4.98% (ADVM); 
  • Friday’s percentage (%) of the 24-upside were +0.06% (EDIT) to +9.58% (BLCM) while the 9-downside ranged from -0.06% (VCEL) to -3.83% (PSTI); 

 

Sentiment and a few daily indicators:

The prospects of a potential coronavirus vaccine and more U.S. fiscal stimulus engaged to spread of the upside.

  • Monday 3.77 million cases
  • Friday’s 3.57 cases

Monday’s death rate totaled 140,563 after Friday’s 138,000, Thursday’s 137,846, Wednesday’s 136,400, Tuesday’s 135,900 and last Monday’s 135,205 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

Upside volume stats: 

  • Monday: 6 out of the 24-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday: 5 out of the 24-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Monday was down -1.22 points or -4.75% at 24.46
  • Friday was down -2.32 points or -8.29% at 25.68

Downside volume stats:

  • Monday: 0 out of the 10-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday: 2 out of the 9-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

 

July

Monday (7/20) closed positive with 24 advancers, 10 decliners and 1 flat

Friday closed positive with 24 advancers, 9 decliners and 2 flats

Thursday closed negative with 7 advancers, 25 decliners and 3 flats

Wednesday closed positive with 30 advancers, 4 decliners and 1 flat

Tuesday closed positive with 25 advancers, 8 decliners and 2 flats

Monday (7/13) closed negative with 4 advancers, 29 decliners and 2 flats

Friday closed negative with 9 advancers, 22 decliners and 4 flats

Thursday closed negative with 10 advancers, 24 decliners and 1 flat

Wednesday closed positive with 28 advancers, 5 decliners and 2 flats

Tuesday closed positive with 18 advancers, 12 decliners and 5 flats

Monday (7/6) closed positive with 19 advancers, 15 decliners and 1 flat

Friday was a market holiday;

Thursday closed positive with 18 advancers, 14 decliners and 3 flats

Wednesday (7/1) closed positive with 24 advancers, 7 decliners and 4 flats

 

The Bottom line:  There are 23 vaccine candidates in clinical development, and until Monday, only one had produced phase one data available in a peer-reviewed journal.

Remember one-word, EARLY … data … potential does NOT mean approved and then there is the timing of a roll-out!

This a.m.’s newsletter, “RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: issue, sustainability of pricing ... https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11463  “ 

I haven’t changed MY view …

Reiterating, “I believe we are at a scary time in the sector and the market – the upside is like “rolling thunder” however, I expect … yet another … reversal after the upside traffic!

Q2 results are coming, so will momentum last? I tend to be a contrarian – safety is NOT a virtue! Speculation has proved to be a VICE … it’s STILL like gambling in a bigger casino or on sports.

 

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.