December 10, 2020 5:44pm

As fundamentals flap in the wind, still advocating “some’ profit-taking

Pre-open indication results: 7 HITs and 2 MISS

An “intelligence newspaper” for smart investing in the RegMed, gene and cell therapy sector.  I track the numbers, so there’s no question re my opinion; so, you can do what others can't.

Closing explanations on what you need to know for the next day!

The Dow closed DOWN -69.55 points (-0.23%); the S&P closed DOWN -4.72 points (-0.13%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +66.86 points (+0.54%)

 

Henry’omics:

Two (2) indexes close down and one (1) closes up as fiscal aid negations remain in the “clouds of disharmony”.

House Speaker Pelosi told reporters Thursday that bipartisan negotiations were leading to “great progress” for an additional government aid package. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s staff told other congressional leaders’ offices that senate Republicans would not support the measure. <CNBC>

 

Data Docket: Initial weekly jobless claims jumped to 853,000 last week, topping a Dow Jones estimate of 730,000. That marks the highest number of initial claims being filed since September and the first time since October that they topped 800,000.

 

Hammered in today’s market:

  • Pluristem (PSTI), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), Mesoblast (MESO), Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC), Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM) to name 5 of the 9 declining of the 35 covered

Jumping with share pricing momentum: 

  • Editas Medicine (EDIT), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), Ultragenyx (RARE) name 5 of the 22 inclining of the 35 covered

 

Pre-open indication: 7 HITs <SELL: Biostage (BSTG -$0.00 to $1.35 with 337 shares traded): BUY: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$2.01), Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM +$0.08), bluebird bio (BLUE +$0.00), Cellectis SA (CLLS +$2.48), Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY +$0.51), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$7.15)> and 2 MISS < Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.27), Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC -$0.10) – not that bad >

 

This morning, I stated in this a.m.’s newsletter – RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: some like shaken or stirred; I like my equity calls straight-up. The phoenix or bottoms do rise from the ashes … most times after trafficking in the downside … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11671

 

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

  • Thursday opened positive at 28/5 and 3 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 23/9 and 3 flats, closing positive at 22/9 and 4 flats;
  • Wednesday opened positive at 21/12 and 2 flats, flipped negative at the mid-day at 9/24 and 3 flats, closing negative at 10/22 and 3 flats;
  • Tuesday opened negative at 15/18 and 2 flats, stayed negative at the mid-day at 15/17 and 3 flats, closing positive at 19/14 and 2 flats;
  • Monday opened positive at 25/9 and 1 flat, strayed negative at the mid-day at 13/20 and 2 flats, closing negative at 14/20 and 1 flat;

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was LOW with 13 of the 22-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 7 of 9-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Thursday’s percentage (%) of the 22-upside were +0.27% (GBT) to +52.98% (SGMO) while the 9-downside ranges from -0.21% (RGNX) to -11.14% (PSTI);

 

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

  • Thursday, the IBB closed up +1.50% and XBI closed up +3.69%
  • Wednesday, the IBB closed down -1.88% and XBI closed down -2.03%
  • Tuesday, the IBB closed up +1.77% and XBI closed up +1.93%
  • Monday, the IBB closed up +0.01% and XBI closed up +0.93%

 

Thursday’s (10 of 22) incliners:

  • Editas Medicine (EDIT +$16.26 after Wednesday’s +$7.40, Tuesday’s +$4.13 after Monday’s +$4.56);
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE +$10.25 after Wednesday’s -$5.00, Tuesday’s +$7.83 and Monday’s +$22.98);
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$7.63 after Wednesday’s +$0.16, Tuesday’s -$3,25 after Monday’s +$2.18);
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$7.15 after Wednesday’s +$1.45, Tuesday’s +$0.67 and Monday’s +$3.15);
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO +$5.42 after Wednesday’s +$0.55, Tuesday’s +$0.40 and Monday’s -$0.71);
  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$5.32 after Wednesday’s -$8.81, Tuesday’s +$7.75 and Monday’s +$1.40);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS +$2.48 after Wednesday’s -$2.24, Tuesday’s -$0.21 and Monday’s +$0.75);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$2.38 after Wednesday’s +$0.86, Tuesday’s -$2.65 and Monday’s +$0.99);
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$2.01 after Wednesday’s -$4.01 after Tuesday’s +$1.24 and Monday’s -$2.75);

Thursday’s (9 of 9) decliner:

  • Pluristem (PSTI -$0.78 after Wednesday’s -$4.46);
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.27 after Wednesday’s -$2.33, Tuesday’s -$1.33 and Monday’s -$0.91);
  • Mesoblast (MESO -$0.20 after Wednesday’s +$0.20, Tuesday’s +$0.25 and Monday’s +$0.44);
  • Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC -$0.10);
  • Regenxbio (RGNX -$0.08 after Wednesday’s +$1.56, Tuesday’s +$0.87 and Monday’s -$1.36);
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM -$0.07 after Wednesday’s -$0.68);
  • Brainstorm cell Therapeutics (BCLI -$0.06);
  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR -$0.05);
  • Precigen (PGEN -$0.03);

Closing flat – 3 - Biostage (BSTG), bluebird bio (BLUE), ReNeuron (RENE.L) and 1– Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

 

Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: a 360 degrees comparison of % and pricing

  • Thursday’s percentage (%) of the 22-upside were +0.27% (GBT) to +52.98% (SGMO) while the 9-downside ranges from -0.21% (RGNX) to -11.14% (PSTI);
  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 10-upside were +0.11% (CRSP) to +17.14% (EDIT) while the 22-downside ranges from -0.58% (VCEL) to -38.92% (PSTI);
  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 19-upside were +0.17% (MDXG) to +10.58% (EDIT) while the 14-downside of -0.70% (CLLS) to -6.64% (BLFS);
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 14-upside were +0.38% (SAGE) to +37.80% (FATE) while the 20-downside of -0.07% (RENE.L) to -9.71% (BLCM);

 

Sentiment and a few daily indicators:

Sentiment was dampened by the release of weaker-than-expected jobless claims data.

Also, a staggering number of Americans are dying from the coronavirus each day, the U.S. recorded 3,124 new Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday while 9/11 deaths were 3,156 – a terrible comparison but meaningful. <CNBC, John Hopkins University & The Encyclopedia of 911>

Infection cases <Million>:

  • Thursday 15.39 M cases
  • Wednesday 15.24 M cases
  • Tuesday 15.01 M cases
  • Monday 14.79 M cases

Thursday’s death rate totaled 289,451 after Wednesday’s 287,550 after Tuesday’s 284,887, Monday’s 282,522, Friday’s 227,639 and last Thursday’s 273,920 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

Stats:

Upside volume: 

  • Thursday: 13 out of the 22-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday: 8 out of the 10-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 10 out of the 19-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 9 out of the 14-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Thursday was up +0.25 points or +1.12% at 22.52
  • Wednesday was up +1.71 points or +8.27% at 22.39
  • Tuesday was down -0.62 points or -2.91% at 20.68
  • Monday was up +0.51 points or +2.45% at 21.30

Downside volume:

  • Thursday: 7 out of the 9-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday: 13 out of the 22-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 10 out of the 14-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 9 out of the 20-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

 

December, the 3rd month of Q4 …

Thursday closed positive with 22 advancers, 9 decliners and 4 flats 

Wednesday closed negative with 10 advancers, 22 decliners and 3 flats 

Tuesday closed positive with 19 advancers, 14 decliners and 2 flats 

Monday (12/7) closed negative with 14 advancers, 20 decliners and 1 flat 

Friday closed positive with 25 advancers, 9 decliners and 2 flats 

Thursday closed neutral with 16 advancers, 16 decliners and 3 flats 

Wednesday closed positive with 20 advancers, 14 decliners and 1 flat 

Tuesday (12/1) closed positive with 20 advancers, 15 decliners and 1 flat 

 

The Bottom Line: “When the wind blows, there are times to move with it” … gene editing equities (CRSP, NTLA and EDIT) got a big boost in the aftermath of the annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting.

“That encouraging data was surrounding their treatment CTX-001 for sickle cell (SCD) and beta thalassemia, two debilitating diseases of the blood. While Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier winning a Nobel prize in October for their discovery of CRISPR/Cas9 was breathtaking, this data was explosive for the science and companies because of medical efficacy and safety.” <Zacks>

There is a LOT of profit on the table IF a holder …  as risk/reward opportunities for investors.

I also include … Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) because its original innovations with zinc finger nuclease "cut and paste" technology “seems” to offer leverage on a future where many diseases can be eliminated or prevented.

when the oversold get so ripe – it’s time to recognize value.

 

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.