November 12, 2020 7:55am

Uncertainty + Volatility “ain’t over’ until the election winner “sings” with more uncertainty blowing in the wind which doesn’t help economic recovery

Pre-open indications: 4 BUYs and 6 SELLs

News:  a number of covered companies making presentations at American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2020 to be held virtually November 13-17, 2020

What I provide is an “intelligence daily” to ensure that shareholders are kept apprised based on a 24-hour surveillance of “our” universe, the RegMed/cell and gene therapy sector and its surrounding markets

Subscription is coming, it’s not conscription but, an offer to join our collective of like-minded investors!  My gift to you, I've kept RMi subscription FREE during these COVID-19 and volatile times

 


0Dow futures are DOWN -0.68% (-189 points), S&P futures are DOWN -0.35% (-12 points) and NASDAQ futures are UP +0.19% (+22 points)

 

U.S. stock futures were mixed Thursday as trading churns the gains from earlier in the week;

European markets retreated, as preliminary figures showed the U.K. economy grew by a record 15.5% in Q3, though it remains 9.7% below its December 2019 level while the pan-European Stoxx 600 fell -0.7%;

Asia-Pacific stocks struggled for direction as the various measurement indexes dived and inclined while investors have moved out of technology and “stay-at-home” stocks in favor of cyclicals that would benefit from an economic recovery. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped fractionally.

 

Data Docket: The Labor Department will release jobless claims data for last week and economists expect 740,000 claims. New inflation data will also be released.

 

Henry’omics:

Futures contracts tied to the Dow fell along with the S&P 500 into negative territory. Yet the Nasdaq is inclining.

A solid, “More positive news on the vaccine is coming, as Moderna (MRNA) announced on Wednesday evening that its P3 trial had accrued enough cases of the coronavirus to submit the preliminary results to an independent safety monitoring board.” <CNBC>

Followed by weakness “worries rise in Covid-19 cases across the country now confirming more than 10 million cases of the virus.”

 

Wednesday night’s recap: RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: “the daily trend turned to be a friend” https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11631  

  • The Nasdaq closed UP +232.57 points (+2.01%);
  • The IBB closed up +1.29% and XBI closed up +1.39%;
  • Sector volume was the usual LOW with 4 of the 17-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 4 of 15-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) was down -1.33 points or -5.36% at 23.47;
  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 17-upside were +0.03% (AXGN) to +9% (BLCM) while the 15-downside ranges from -0.36% (VCEL) to -8.14% (AGTC);

Q4’s: November, so far: 7 positive and 1 negative closes

  • Q4’s October: 1 neutral, 11 positives with 1 negative closes
  • Q3: July through September: 1 neutral, 28 positive and 34 negative closes with 2 holidays

 

Companies in my headlights – It’s your decision; I provide an idea and context:

Maintaining Sell:

Biostage (BSTG) closed flat at $1.50 with 55 shares traded after Tuesday’s +$0.15 to $1.50 with 200 shares traded, Monday’s -$0.25 to $1.35 with 2.235 shares traded, Friday’s +$0.23 to $1.60 with 635 shares traded and last Thursday’s -$0.10 to $1.37).

  • Question#1: Again, WHAT is the status of the remaining payable due of $429,500.00 “gift” of $1 million to Connecticut Children’s (hospital) where one of BSTG’s board director is CEO James Schmerling?
  • Question#2: Is it a conflict of interest that the “billing” has NOT appeared in the balance sheet liabilities? Copies exist …

 

SELL:

Precigen (PGEN) closed down -$0.22 to $5.78 after Tuesday’s $6.00, Monday’s $5.43 and last Friday’s $4.91 with a NEGATIVE -$0.06 or -1.04% aftermarket indication;

 

SELL into Strength:

Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed up +$0.77 to $53.38 after Tuesday’s $52.61, Monday’s +50.69, Friday’s $48.28 and last Thursday’s $49.92. NO aftermarket indication after reaching a 52-week high and 52-week change of +257.40% - “ripe for profit-taking”;

 

Maintaining BUY:

bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$1.13 to $45.48 after Tuesday’s +$0.15 to $46.61, Monday’s +$0.57 to $46.46, Friday’s -$0.62 to $45.89 and last Thursday’s -$9.72 to $48.83 with a POSITIVE +$0.12 or +0.26% aftermarket indication;

Homology Medicine (FIXX) closed up +$0.17 to $9.78 after Tuesday’s -$0.26 to $9.61, Monday’s $9.87, Friday’s $9.50 and last Thursday’s $12.00 with a POSITIVE +$0.17 or +1.74% aftermarket indication;

 

BUY:

uniQure NV (QURE) closed down -$0.88 to $43.12 after Tuesday’s $44.00, Monday’s $42.00, Friday’s $40.98 and last Thursday’s $41.92 with a POSITIVE +$0.63 or +1.46% aftermarket indication;

Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) closed down -$1.27 to $78.27 after Tuesday’s $79.54, Monday’s $77.83, Friday’s $78.06 and last Thursday’s $78.11 with a POSITIVE +$0.38 or +0.49% aftermarket indication;

Maintaining SELL:

Ultragenyx (RARE) closed up $3.20 to $120.68 after Tuesday’s +$3.76 to $117.48, Monday’s $113.72, Friday’s $111.42 and last Thursday’s $114.41 with a NEGATIVE -$0.82 or -0.68% aftermarket indication;

Verastem (VSTM) closed flat at $1.43 after Tuesday’s+$0.12 to $1.43, Monday’s $1.31, Friday’s $1.22, and last Thursday’s $1.28 with a NEGATIVE -$0.04 or -2.80% aftermarket indication;

 

BUY to SELL:

Intellia therapeutics (NTLA) closed up +$0.12 to $29.63 after Tuesday’s +$0.78 to $29.51, Monday’s $28.73, Friday’s $28.06 and last Thursday’s $28.48 with a POSITIVE +$0.30 or +1.01% aftermarket indication

 

 

The BOTTOM LINE: Short-lived rally are the norm - not quite sparking hope of a return to a normality and still slow economic re-openings if any?

Let go of momentum driven stocks – cut holdings with a profit, volatility will strengthen. Don’t just sit on “some’ gains – fill your portfolio with cash and “powder” for coming lows!

Realities are … beginning to set-in re financial disasters of the economy and ultimatley, markets.

 

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.