January 14, 2021 8:20am

Markets seem to have shrugged off Washington’s political conflict, will it continue?

Pre-open indication: 1 SELL and 5 BUYs

What I provide is a trusted source of share pricing intelligence that ensures that investors are kept apprised of “our” universe, the RegMed/cell and gene therapy sector and its surrounding markets

Subscription is coming, it’s not conscription but, an offer to join our collective of like-minded investors!  


Dow futures are UP +0.26% (+80 points), S&P futures are UP +0.11% (+4 points) and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.02% (-3 points)

 

Futures are pretty thin, this Thursday a.m. as fiscal aid numbers versus infection and hospitalization figures compete tops pressure from rising rates and political turmoil;

European markets were marginally up as coronavirus cases continue to climb although vaccination rollouts across the Continent have raised some hopes to a slowing of the pandemic;

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed as China’s markets declined even after December trade data beat expectations;

 

Henry’omics:

President-elect Biden is expected to unveil a stimulus plan that will include a boost to the recent $600 direct payments, an extension of increased unemployment insurance and support for state and local governments. The stimulus could be as big as $2 trillion.

Some good news, clinical trial data published (on Wednesday) showed that Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) one-dose coronavirus vaccine is safe and generates a promising immune response.

 

Data Docket: First-time claims for unemployment insurance jumped to 965,000 last week amid signs of a slowdown in hiring due to pandemic restrictions, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The total was worse than estimates of 800,000 and above the previous week’s total of 784,000. <CNBC>

 

Wednesday’s evening’s recap: RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: “political processes and fiscal aid timing deflates expectation. There’s more than enough of being too bearish as sector clings to fewer gains” https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11720

  • The Nasdaq closed UP +56.52 points (+0.43%);
  • The IBB closed down -0.21% and XBI closed down -0.52%
  • 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;
  • The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) was down -1.12 points or -4.80% at 22.21;
  • 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);

January:

  • 5 positive and 3 negative closes, so far

 

Companies in my headlights – It’s your decision; I provide an idea and context:

Maintaining Sell:

Biostage (BSTG) closed flat -$0.00 to $1.18 with 411 shares traded after Tuesday’s $1.18 with 3,500 shares traded and Monday’s $1.16 with 3,202 shares traded. Reiterating the WHY questions …

  • Question#1: WHY does Chinese investor DST Capital and Beijing based Dixintong Technology Group need a regenerative medicine/biotech public, PPP debtor and money losing company in its investment group that resides in the middle of medical and scientific innovation in America?
  • Question#2: Don’t U.S. public shareholders deserve accountability of WHAT is the mission going forward and WHAT data are they accumulating?

 

BUY and bounce-backs:

Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC) closed down -$0.13 to $4.47 after Tuesday’s +$0.04 to $4.60 and Monday’s $4.56 and has a positive +$0.25 or +5.59% aftermarket indication;

bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$2.84 to $49.49 after Tuesday’s +$1.93 to $52.33 after Monday’s $50.40 and Friday’s $48.54 with a positive +$0.28 or +0.57% pre-market indication;

Precigen (PGEN) closed down -$0.25 to $8.42, after Tuesday’s $8.67 and Monday’s $8.85 and has a positive +$0.38 or +4.51% aftermarket indication;

Ultragenyx (RARE) closed down -$2.93 to $134.71 after Tuesday’s $137.64 and Monday’s $141.74 with a positive +$0.29 or +0.22% aftermarket indication;

Verastem (VSTM) closed down -$0.08 to $2.37 after Tuesday’s $2.45 and Monday’s $2.35 with a positive +$0.07 or +2.95% aftermarket indication;

 

The BOTTOM LINE: Can’t get-off this thematic: Investors are waiting for fiscal aid “numbers” and timetable but, “looking …for reasons to BUY stocks.”

Real issue, “the U.S. coronavirus situation continues to be bleak — the 7-day averages of new cases and hospitalizations are at records, with 4,056 deaths on Tuesday alone, according to the COVID tracking project.” <MarketWatch>

Earnings season Is about to begin. Investors are considering whether they should ignore and wait for Q2.

 

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.