December 28, 2020 5:15pm
Risk exposure contributes as year comes to a close
Pre-open indications: 1 HIT 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.
Closing explanations on what you need to know for the next session!
The Dow closed UP +204.10 points (+0.68%); the S&P closed UP +32.30 points (+0.87%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +94.69 points (+0.74%)
Henry’omics:
All three major U.S. stock indexes reach all-time closing highs as sector equities slumped on Monday to start the final trading week of 2020 after President Trump signed an economic relief bill averting a government shutdown.
The S&P 500 is up 15.6% in 2020, while the Dow has climbed 6.5% and the Nasdaq has soared 43.8% this year.
Markets in Britain, Australia and New Zealand were closed on Monday in observance of the Boxing Day holiday.
There are clear winners — and losers — heading into the final month of 2020:
All-time and 52-week highs:
- Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) reached an all-time high of $69.53 and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) reached an all-time high of $181.00 while each: Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) had a 52-week high of $18.83, Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) had a 52-week high of $90.40 and Cellectis SA (CLLS) had a 52-week high of $33.13
Hammered in today’s market:
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Fate therapeutics (FATE), Ultragenyx (RARE), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) to name 5 of the 25 declining of the 35 covered
Jumping with share pricing momentum:
- Cellectis SA (CLLS), Editas Medicine (EDIT), CRISPER Therapeutics (CRSP), Precigen (PGEN), AxoGen (AXGN), Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO), bluebird bio (BLUE), Mesoblast (MESO) to name 8 of the 8 inclining of the 35 covered
Pre-open indication: 1 HIT < Maintaining SELL: Biostage (BSTG -$0.04) with 1,621 shares traded versus a 3-month average of 1,895 shares;
This morning, I stated in this a.m.’s newsletter – RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “last chance to take some chips off the table into the year-end. Another holiday short-week and final trading week of 2020 … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11696
RegMed/Cell and Gene therapy 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: progressions and regressions …
- Monday opened positive at 23/9 and 3 flats, strayed neutral at the mid-day at 16/16 and 3 flats, closing negative at 8/25 and 2 flats;
- Thursday opened positive at 18/15 and 2 flats, flipped negative at the early close at 8/25 and 2 flats;
Key metrics:
- Sector volume was BALANCED with 6 of the 8-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 10 of 25-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
- Monday’s percentage (%) of the 8-upside were +0.26% (CRSP) to +5.39% (PGEN) while the 25-downside of -0.14% (BLFS) to -7.55% (MDXG);
The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) and the SPDR S&P ETF (XBI) indicators:
- Monday, the IBB closed down -2.37% and XBI closed down -1.57%
- Thursday, the IBB closed down -0.76% and XBI closed down -0.82%
Monday’s (8 of 8) incliners:
- Editas Medicine (EDIT +$0.82 after Thursday’s +$1.93, Wednesday’s +$0.54, Tuesday’s -$2.60 and last Monday’s +$19.25);
- Cellectis SA (CLLS +$0.77 after Thursday’s -$1.24, Wednesday’s +$1.60, Tuesday’s +$2.42 and last Monday’s +$0.92);
- Precigen (PGEN +$0.54 after Thursday’s +$0.11 and Wednesday’s -$0.59);
- CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP+$0.43 after Thursday’s -$4.73, Wednesday’s +$3.15, Tuesday’s +$3.24 and last Monday’s +$18.23);
- AxoGen (AXGN) +$0.25);
- Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO +$0.23);
- bluebird bio (+$0.21 after Thursday’s -$0.47, Wednesday’s +$0.37, Tuesday’s -$0.55 and Monday’s +$1.47);
- Mesoblast (MESO +$0.07);
Monday’s (10 of 25) decliner:
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$3.48 and Thursday’s -$1.06);
- Fate Therapeutics (FATE -$3.29 after Thursday’s -$1.30, Wednesday’s -$0.15 and Tuesday’s +$6.89);
- Ultragenyx (RARE -$2.98 after Thursday’s -$4.52, Wednesday’s +$4.39, Tuesday’s +$5.60 and last Monday’s -$0.64);
- Intellia therapeutics (NTLA -$1.27 after Thursday’s -$1.21);
- Sage Therapeutics (SAGE -$1.10 after Thursday’s +$0.38, Wednesday’s +$0.87, Tuesday’s +$3.81 and last Monday’s +$2.21);
- uniQure NV (QURE -$1.05);
- Regenxbio (RGNX -$0.82);
- Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$0.78 after Thursday’s +$0.42, Wednesday’s -$0.18);
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$0.75 after Thursday’s -$0.59, Wednesday’s +$1.68, Tuesday’s +$3.25 and last Monday’s +$1.01);
- MiMedx (MDXG -$0.71);
Closing 1 – ReNeuron (RENE.L) and 1 - Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)
Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: a 360 degrees comparison of % and pricing
- Monday’s percentage (%) of the 8-upside were +0.26% (CRSP) to +5.39% (PGEN) while the 25-downside of -0.14% (BLFS) to -7.55% (MDXG);
- 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);
Sentiment and a few daily indicators:
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. continues to increase barely balanced by over one million people in the U.S. being vaccinated.
Infection cases <Million>:
- Monday 19.22 M cases
- Thursday 18.49 M cases
Monday’s death rate totaled 334,025 <Johns Hopkins University>
Stats:
Upside volume:
- Monday: 6 out of the 8-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
- Thursday: 1 out of the 8-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:
- Monday was up +0.17 points or +0.79% at 21.70
- Thursday was down -1.85 points or -7.94% at 21.46
Downside volume:
- Monday: 10 out of the 25-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
- Thursday: 3 out of the 25-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
December, the 3rd month of Q4 …
Monday (12/28) closed negative with 8 advancers, 25 decliners and 2 flats
Friday was a market holiday
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.
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.
