December 24, 2020 2:16pm

Giving coal to share pricing to burn most upsides for this session and week

Pre-open indications: 1 HITs and 0 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.

Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas as the NEW Year 2021 approaches … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/5970


The Dow closed UP +70.04 points (+0.23%); the S&P closed UP +13.05 points (+0.35%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +33.62 points (+0.26%)

 

Henry’omics:

U.S. indexes posted slight gains in thin trading on Thursday to wrap up the holiday-shortened week.

Trading volume was low on Christmas Eve. The market closed early at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, and will be closed on Friday in observance of Christmas.

The S&P 500 registered a 0.2% loss, the Dow eked out a 0.1% and the Nasdaq rose 0.4% for the week.

Four (4) trading days remain left in the year!

 

Hammered in today’s market:

  • CRISPER Therapeutics (CRSP), Ultragenyx (RARE), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Cellectis SA (CLLS), Intellia therapeutics (NTLA) to name 5 of the 25 declining of the 35 covered

Jumping with share pricing momentum:

  • Editas Medicine (EDIT), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), Pluristem (PSTI), Vericel (VCEL) to name 5 of the 8 inclining of the 35 covered

 

Pre-open indication: 1 HITs < Maintaining SELL: Biostage (BSTG -$0.20) with 17,622 shares traded versus a 3-month average of 1,723 shares;

 

This morning, I stated in this a.m.’s newsletter – RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “a holiday shortened session. The market will close early at 1 p.m. ET and will be closed on Friday” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11693

 

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

  • Thursday opened positive at 18/15 and 2 flats, flipped negative at the early close at 8/25 and 2 flats;
  • Wednesday opened negative at 11/21 and 3 flats, flipped positive at the mid-day at 20/14 and 1 flat, closing positive at 20/14 and 1 flat;
  • Tuesday opened positive at 29/5 and 1 flat, stayed positive at the mid-day at xx/x and 1 flat, closing positive at 23/11 and 1 flat;
  • Monday opened negative at 7/24 and 4 flats, stayed negative at the mid-day at 15/18 and 2 flats, closing positive at 23/10 and 2 flats;

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was ANEMIC with 1 of the 8-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 3 of 25-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Thursday’s percentage (%) of the 8-upside were +0.42% (VCEL) to +3.15% (PSTI) while the 25-downside ranges from -0.0.12% (RGNX) to -13.79% (BSTG);

 

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

  • Thursday, the IBB closed down -0.76% and XBI closed down -0.82%
  • Wednesday, the IBB closed up +0.45% and XBI closed up +0.01%
  • Tuesday, the IBB closed up +0.19% and XBI closed up +0.85%
  • Monday, the IBB closed down -0.07% and XBI closed up +1.07%

 

Thursday’s (8 of 8) incliners:

  • Editas Medicine (EDIT +$1.93 after Wednesday’s +$0.54, Tuesday’s -$2.60 and Monday’s +$19.25);
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT +$0.42 after Wednesday’s -$0.18);
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$0.38 after Wednesday’s +$0.87, Tuesday’s +$3.81 and Monday’s +$2.21);
  • Pluristem (+$0.22);
  • Vericel (VCEL +$0.12 after Wednesday’s +$0.63);
  • Precigen (PGEN +$0.11 after Wednesday’s -$0.59);
  • Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM +$0.07);
  • Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS +$0.01);

Thursday’s (10 of 25) decliner:

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$4.73 after Wednesday’s +$3.15, Tuesday’s +$3.24 and Monday’s +$18.23);
  • Ultragenyx (RARE -$4.52 after Wednesday’s +$4.39, Tuesday’s +$5.60 and Monday’s -$0.64);
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE -$1.30 after Wednesday’s -$0.15, Tuesday’s +$6.89);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS -$1.24 after Wednesday’s +$1.60, Tuesday’s +$2.42 and Monday’s +$0.92);
  • Intellia therapeutics (NTLA -$1.21);
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$1.06);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$0.93 after Wednesday’s -$1.10);
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.59 after Wednesday’s +$1.68, Tuesday’s +$3.25 and Monday’s +$1.01);
  • bluebird bio (-$0.47 after Wednesday’s +$0.37, Tuesday’s -$0.55 and Monday’s +$1.47);
  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR -$0.46 after Wednesday’s -$0.59 and Tuesday’s -$0.25);

Closing 1 – 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 8-upside were +0.42% (VCEL) to +3.15% (PSTI) while the 25-downside ranges from -0.0.12% (RGNX) to -13.79% (BSTG);
  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.22% (ALNY) to +16% (BSTG) while the 14-downside ranges from -0.15% (FATE) to -7.77% (ATHX);
  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 23-upside were +1.10% (ADVM) to +18.89% (SGMO) while the 11-downside ranges from -0.19% (BCLI) to -13.29% (BSTG);
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 23-upside were +0.40% (GBT) to +29.89% (EDIT) while the 10-downside of -0.27% (SLDB) to -16.19% (QURE);

 

Sentiment and a few daily indicators:

Infectious disease takes NO holiday, wear a mask, stay safe but, enjoy the holiday – there is NO need to take ANY risks!

Infection cases <Million>:

  • Thursday 18.49 M cases
  • Wednesday 18.25 M cases
  • Tuesday 18.16 M cases
  • Monday 17.86 M cases

Thursday’s death rate totaled 326,871 after Wednesday’s 323,274, Tuesday’s 322,611, Monday’s 317,749, Friday’s 311,010, Thursday’s 307,770 and last Wednesday’s 304,094 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

Stats:

Upside volume:

  • Thursday: 1 out of the 8-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday: 12 out of the 20-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 13 out of the 23-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 17 out of the 23-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Thursday was down -1.85 points or -7.94% at 21.46
  • Wednesday was down -0.92 points or -3.80% at 23.31
  • Tuesday was down -0.93 points or -3.70% at 24.23
  • Monday was up +3.59 points or +16.64% at 25.16

Downside volume:

  • Thursday: 3 out of the 25-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday: 6 out of the 14-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 5 out of the 11-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 5 out of the 10-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

 

December, the 3rd month of Q4 …

Thursday closed negative with 8 advancers, 25 decliners and 2 flats

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

Tuesday closed positive with 23 advancers, 11 decliners and 1 flat

Monday (12/23) closed positive with 23 advancers, 10 decliners and 2 flats

Friday closed positive with 21 advancers, 11 decliners and 3 flats

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

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

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: I was early in stating; “investors should continue to use the stock market's strength to SELL 52-week and all-time highs”.  

The algo’s struck as anticipated as the …

Year-end approaches and investors need to de-risk their portfolio … investors could should be taking chips off the table of those who have registered upside gains in 2020.

With less than two weeks left, the S&P 500 is up nearly 14% for the year, while the Dow has gained more than 5%. The Nasdaq has soared more than 41% this year during the pandemic.

My soapbox is still in place as I re-emphasize volatility will remain elevated into the New Year.

 

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.