January 13, 2021 5:28pm

There’s more than enough of being too bearish as sector clings to fewer gains

Numbers based facts speak better then opinion as I see answers in numbers

Pre-open indication: 7 HITs and 4 MISS

Are we here to make money or see it erode as some sessions devolve? 

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The Dow closed DOWN -8.22 points (-0.03); the S&P closed UP +8.65 points (+0.23%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +56.52 points (+0.43%)

 

Henry’omics:

Sector equities tripped as indexes skipped a step on Wednesday, as interest rates, the political impeachment coming out of newly democratic Washington and increasing rates of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.

Wednesday’s moves came as U.S. Treasury rates eased from their March highs. The benchmark 10-year note yield fell more than 6 basis points to 1.088%. The 30-year bond yield also fell on Wednesday, last trading at 1.823%. On Tuesday, the benchmark rate traded as high as 1.187%. Despite this decline, the 10-year rate remains more than 15 basis points above its 2020 close of 0.92%. <CNBC>

 

Data Docket: Equities were also getting a lift from comments from two Federal Reserve officials who said it was premature to think about tapering bond purchases later this year while the economy was still struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. Taper talk has increased lately in tandem with discussions of more relief spending. Inflation data showed only a 0.4% uptick in consumer prices during December. Prices are expected to rise as the economy gets back on track, according to economists. <thestreet.com>

 

Sentiment and COVID-19 infections:

President Trump is impeached for the SECOND TIME with 10 Republicans joining Democrats to put him on trial for 'incitement of insurrection' after a vote of 231 to 197 in the House of Representatives.

As the U.S. vaccine rollout gains momentum, the U.S. is now in its post-holiday surge, and the situation will like worsen before it improves.

Infection cases <Million>: never to forget …

  • Wednesday 22.87 M cases,
  • Wednesday’s death rate totaled 381,790 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

This a.m.’s post, “what’s a preferred narrative? A definition of expectation as coronavirus and impeachment efforts temper markets” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11719

 

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

  • Wednesday opened positive at 18/15 and 2 flats, slipped negative at the mid-day to 14/18 and 3 flats, closing negative at 10/21, 3 flats and 1 acquired;
  • Tuesday opened positive at 27/7 and 1 flat, stayed positive at the mid-day at 20/14 and 1 acquired, closing positive at 21/13 and 1 acquired;
  • Monday opened negative at 20/14 and 1 flat, stayed negative at the mid-day at 12/20 and 3 flat3, closing negative at 13/20, 1 flat and 1 acquired;

 

Pre-open indication:

  • 8 HITs < Maintaining SELL: Biostage (BSTG -$0.00 with 411 shares traded; Sell into Strength: Athersys (ATHX -$0.06), bluebird bio (BLUE -$2.84), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$0.32), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$3.50); BUYS: BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$2.36), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT +$2.90); SELL: Mesoblast (MESO -$0.10)> 3 MISS < BUY: Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC -$0.13), Homology Medicine (FIXX -$0.30), Pluristem (PSTI -$0.21); >

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was BALANCED with 5 of the 10-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 5 of 21-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 10-upside were +0.42% (NTLA) to +6.29% (GBT) while the 21-downside ranges from -0.82% (BLCM) to -5.43% (BLUE);

 

There are clear winners — and losers — heading into the first month of 2021.

52-week high

  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) at $96.23, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) reached a 52-week high of $170.93

Hammered in today’s market:

  • bluebird bio (BLUE), Ultragenyx (RARE), Regenxbio (RGNX), Editas Medicine (EDIT), Vericel (VCEL) to name 5 of the 21 declining of the 35 covered

Jumping with share pricing momentum:

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) to name 5 of the 10 inclining of the 35 covered

Wednesday’s (10 of 10) incliners:

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$5.28 after Tuesday’s +$9.02 and Monday’s +$9.97);
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$3.50 after Tuesday’s +$1.46 and Monday’s -$4.94)
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT +$2.90);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$2.36 after Tuesday’s -$0.34);
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$2.10 after Tuesday’s +$3.10 and Monday’s +$0.15);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS +$1.39);
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE +$1.24);
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$0.50 after Tuesday’s -$2.95 and Monday’s +$1.06);
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$0.32 after Tuesday’s +$2.91 and Monday’s -$5.58);
  • MiMedx (MDXG +$0.07 after Tuesday’s -$0.07);

Wednesday’s (10 of 21) decliners:

  • Ultragenyx (RARE -$2.93 after Tuesday’s -$4.10 and Monday’s -$8.85);
  • bluebird bio (BLUE -$2.84 after Tuesday’s +1.93 and Monday’s +$1.86);
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT -$1.70 after Tuesday’s -$1.94 and Monday’s -$13.64);
  • Regenxbio (RGNX -$1.31 after Tuesday’s +$0.61 and Monday’s +$1.17);
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.48 after Tuesday’s +$2.51 and Monday’s -$1.28);
  • Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY -$0.41 and Tuesday’s -$0.27);
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM -$0.39 after Tuesday’s -$0.42 and Monday’s +$0.29);
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$0.32 after Tuesday’s -$1.51 and Monday’s -$1.12);
  • Homology Medicine (FIXX -$0.32);
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO -$0.26 after Tuesday’s -$0.45 and Monday’s -$0.77);

Closing flat 3 - Biostage (BSTG), ReNeuron (RENE.L), Solid Biosciences (SLDB) and 1 -Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

 

Stats:

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

  • Wednesday, the IBB closed down -0.21% and XBI closed down -0.52%
  • Tuesday, the IBB closed up +0.25% and XBI closed up +0.87%
  • Monday, the IBB closed down -0.16% and XBI closed down -0.99%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Wednesday was down -1.12 points or -4.80% at 22.21
  • Tuesday was down -0.75 points or -3.11% at 23.33
  • Monday was up +2.52 points or +11.69% at 24.08

Upside volume:

  • Wednesday: 5 out of the 10-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 8 out of the 21-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 5 out of the 13-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

Downside volume:

  • Wednesday: 5 out of the 21-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 5 out of the 13-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 10 out of the 20-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

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

  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 10-upside were +0.42% (NTLA) to +6.29% (GBT) while the 21-downside ranges from -0.82% (BLCM) to -5.43% (BLUE);
  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 21-upside were +0.04% (FATE) to +12.25% RENE.L() while the 13-downside ranges from -0.77% (MDXG) to -10.18% (MESO);
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 13-upside were +0.17% (SAGE) to +31.64% (MESO) while the 20-downside ranges from -0.62% (CLBS) to -15.06% (EDIT);

 

January, the 1st month of Q1 …

Wednesday closed positive with 10 advancers, 21 decliners and 4 flats

Tuesday closed positive with 21 advancers, 13 decliners and 1 flat

Monday (1/11) closed negative with 13 advancers, 20 decliners and 2 flats

Friday closed negative with 16 advancers, 18 decliners and 1 flat

Thursday closed positive with 31 advancers, 2 decliners and 2 flats

Wednesday closed positive with 22 advancers, 12 decliners and 1 flat

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

Monday (1/4) closed positive with 26 advancers, 7 decliners and 2 flats

 

The Bottom Line: there is STILL a short-term tone shift in the market. I keep reiterating, “Sector volatility remains fluid … as I had stated, “you should take some profits even if some money is left on the table – safety is cash in your pocket of portfolio!”

Right again … Sell the highs and grab the dips!

Never forget, the “hungry” Pac-man algorithms satiate as the sector soared!

Earnings LPS (los-per-share) season is coming quickly!!

 

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.