December 15, 2020 5:42pm

Although, the FDA said the data on Moderna’s (MNRA) coronavirus vaccine met expectations for emergency use, a crucial step before a full approval

Pre-open indication results: 5 HITs and 3 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 week!

The Dow closed UP +337.76 points (+1.13%); the S&P closed UP +47.13 points (+1.29%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +155.02 points (+1.25%)

 

Henry’omics:

Indexes rose on Tuesday as Congress continued negotiations on yet another fiscal aid “package” and Covid-19 vaccines began to roll out across the country.

“The top four congressional leaders were set to meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, seeking to reach an agreement on another round of coronavirus aid. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set up the meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, marking the biggest effort yet to come to a bipartisan agreement.” <CNBC>

 

All-time highs:

  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB) 52-week high at $6.15,

Hammered in today’s market:

  • Cellectis SA (CLLS), ReNeuron (RENE.L), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Mesoblast (MESO), Precigen (PGEN) to name 5 of the 14 declining of the 35 covered

Jumping with share pricing momentum:

  • Ultragenyx (RARE), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), Editas Medicine (EDIT), Regenxbio (RGNX) to name 5 of the 20 inclining of the 35 covered

 

Pre-open indication: 6 HITs <BUY: Solid Biosciences (SLDB +$1.12), Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC +$0.02), SELL: Mesoblast (MESO -$3.32), Cellectis SA (CLLS -$5.35), Athersys (ATHX -$0.025) > SELL into Strength: Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$1.19)> and 2 MISS < Pluristem (PSTI -$0.16), Verastem (VSTM -$0.06)>

 

This morning, I stated in this a.m.’s newsletter – RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: When you wish upon a vaccine. Makes no difference who you are but, timing sets you back in line and lack of fiscal aid sinks you fast … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11679

 

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

  • Tuesday opened negative at 15/17 and 3 flats, strayed positive at the mid-day at 19/15 and 1 flat, closing positive at 20/14 and 1 flat;
  • Monday opened positive at 29/5 and 1 flat, stayed positive at the mid-day at 28/5 and 2 flats, closing positive at 23/11 and 1 flat;
  • Friday opened negative at 10/21 and 4 flats, stayed negative at the mid-day at 12/21 and 2 flats, closing negative at 13/20 and 2 flats;

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume STAYED UP with 12 of the 20-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 12 of 14-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.06% (VYGR) to +23.38% (SLDB) while the 14-downside of -0.06% (CRSP) to -22.32% (PGEN);

 

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

  • Tuesday, the IBB closed up +0.19% and XBI closed up +0.18%
  • Monday, the IBB closed up +2.34% and XBI closed up +2.66%
  • Friday, the IBB closed up +0.25% and XBI closed down -0.06%

 

Tuesday’s (10 of 20) incliners:

  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$4.56 after Monday’s +$8.28 and Friday’s +$10.75);
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$3.65 after Monday’s +$2.02 and Friday’s -$0.57
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT +$3.44 after Monday’s -$0.43 and Friday’s -$4.92
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$3.01 after Monday’s +$3.04 and Friday’s +$3.60);
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$2.93);
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT+2.16 after Monday’s +$2.13);
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$1.53 after Monday’s -$1.16 and Friday’s -$2.60
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$1.43 after Monday’s -$1.37 and Friday’s -$0.37);
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$1.19 after Monday’s +$1.64 and Friday’s -$0.63);
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB +$1.12 after Monday’s -$0.82 after Friday’s +$1.91);

Tuesday’s (10 of 14) decliner:

  • Cellectis SA (CLLS -$5.35 after Monday’s +$1.70 and Friday’s -$0.71
  • ReNeuron (RENE.L -$5.00 after Monday’s -$3.00 and Friday’s +$4.00);
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE -$3.61);
  • Mesoblast (MESO (MESO -$3.32);
  • Precigen (PGEN -$2.06);
  • Homology Medicine (FIXX -$0.74 after Monday’s +$1.74 and Friday’s +$0.35);
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM -$0.59);
  • bluebird bio (BLUE -$0.19 after Monday’s +$2.09);
  • Pluristem (PSTI -$0.16);
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO -$0.10);

Closing 1– Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

 

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

  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.06% (VYGR) to +23.38% (SLDB) while the 14-downside of -0.06% (CRSP) to -22.32% (PGEN);
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 23-upside were +0.60% (RGNX) to +23.12% (KDNY) while the 11-downside of -0.41% (MESO) to -14.62% (SLDB);
  • Friday’s percentage (%) of the 13-upside were +0.27% (BLFS) to +51.62% (SLDB) while the 20-downside ranges from -0.35% (BLUE) to -21.53% (SGMO);

 

Sentiment and a few daily indicators:

One piece of virus eradication … the FDA approved the first at-home Covid-19 test that can be bought without a prescription, and it will soon be available in U.S. stores. The test, from Australian manufacturer Ellume, will cost about $30 and can be purchased at pharmacies and online. The company said it expects to make 3 million tests in January before ramping up production.

Infection cases <Million>:

  • Tuesday 16.52 M cases
  • Monday 16.25 M cases

Tuesday’s death rate totaled 300,723 after Tuesday’s 299,191, Friday’s 292,190, Thursday’s 289,451, Wednesday’s 287,550 and last Tuesday’s 284,887 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

Stats:

Upside volume:

  • Tuesday: 12 out of the 20-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 18 out of the 23-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday: 8 out of the 13-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Tuesday was down -1.83 points or -7.40% at 22.89
  • Monday was up +1.41 points or +6.05% at 24.72
  • Friday was up +0.79 points or +3.51% at 23.31

Downside volume:

  • Tuesday: 12 out of the 14-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 8 out of the 13-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday: 7 out of the 20-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

 

December, the 3rd month of Q4 …

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

Monday (12/14) closed positive with 23 advancers, 12 decliners and 1 flat

Friday closed negative with 13 advancers, 20 decliners and 2 flats

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: Maintaining caution is STILL warranted; investors will be measuring updates on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout while the coronavirus stimulus stalemates in Washington.

Even with recent weakness for the S&P 500 and Dow, the three major indexes are trading near record highs and are up for the year. I wouldn’t be surprised, if the market deflates as 2020 comes to an end!

As I have been saying, “a storm is coming” and “the sector has been bouncing in the past eight (8) sessions.

 

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.