January 25, 2021 7:59am
Merck (MRK) ends COVID vaccine program, cites inferior immune responses
Pre-open indication: 8 SELLs and 6 BUYs
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Dow futures are DOWN -0.26% (-80 points), S&P futures are UP +0.17% (+6.50 points) and NASDAQ futures are UP +0.96% (+128 points)
U.S. stock futures are mixed early Monday;
European stocks opened higher with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index opened higher trading up +1.2%;
Asia-Pacific markets were higher validated by the MSCI’s index (Asia-Pacific shares excluding Japan) jumped +1.27%.
Henry’omics:
Friday, the S&P slipped -0.3%, the Dow dipped -0.57%. the Nasdaq rose +0.09%.
- The Dow registered its fifth positive week in six while the S&P posted its third positive week in four. The Nasdaq advanced 4.19% last week for its best week since November and the fifth positive week in six which pushed the index to a new all-time high.
The focus for the week is President Biden’s attempts to push through a $1.9 trillion stimulus program that many congressional Republicans oppose is also in focus for investors.
- The fiscal aid includes direct checks to millions of Americans, aid to state and local governments, funding for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, a boost to the minimum wage and enhanced unemployment benefits, among other things.
Friday’s evening’s recap: RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: “bounce-back BUYs were up today. The roller-coaster creates sudden and extreme changes – it’s a question of fastening your emotions” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11735
- The Nasdaq closed UP +12.15 points (+0.09%);
- The IBB closed up +0.81% and XBI closed up +1.18%;
- Sector volume was LOW with 4 of the 21 -upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 3 of 13-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
- The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) was up +0.50 points or +2.77% at 21.91;
- Friday’s percentage (%) of the 21-upside were +0.40% (RENE.L) to +6.01% (ATHX) while the 13-downside ranges from -0.22% (ADVM) to-4.61% (BSTG);
January:
- 8 positive, 6 negative closes and 1 holiday, so far
Companies in my headlights – It’s your decision; I provide an idea and context:
Maintaining Sell:
Biostage (BSTG) closed down -$0.07 with 441 shares traded after Thursday’s +$0.10 to $1.52 with 1,501 shares traded after Wednesday’s +$0.01 to $1.42 with 1,277 shares traded after Tuesday’s +$0.06 to $1.22 with 8,637 shares traded. Reiterating the WHY bottom-line questions:
- Question#1: On WHAT NEWS is the stocks volume improving?
- Question#2: WHY the “push” to “pump” the share pricing; is it related to exercise of the warrants (warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 122,554 shares of common stock) still outstanding;
- Question#3: Doesn’t it seem that DST Capital is behind the race to exercise the warrants?
SELL into Strength:
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) closed up +$5.63 after Thursday’s $166.75, Wednesday’s $170.67, Tuesday’s $168.41 with a negative -$0.49 or -0.28% aftermarket indication;
Athersys (ATHX) closed up +$0.11 to $1.94 after Thursday’s, Wednesday’s and Tuesday’s with a negative -$0.02 or-1.03% aftermarket indication;
CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) closed up +$3.39 to $188.49 after Thursday’s -$4.67 to $185.10, Wednesday’s -$8.52 to $189.77, Tuesday’s -$1.59 to $198.29 with a negative -$0.42 or +0.91% aftermarket indication;
Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS) closed down -$0.11 to $2.39 after Thursday’s -$0.39 to $2.50. Wednesday’s +$1.26 or +77.30% to $2.89 after Tuesday’s $1.63, Friday’s $1.57 and last Thursday’s $1.56 with a negative -$0.09 or -3.77% pre-market indication;
Editas Medicine (EDIT) closed up +$1.97 to $65.76 after Thursday’s -$7.97 to $63.79 post the offering was priced at $66.00 with a +$0.55 or +0.84% aftermarket indication;
Homology Medicine (FIXX) closed up +$0.52 to $13.29 after Thursday’s $12.77, Wednesday’s $13.48 and last Friday’s $13.23, with a negative -$0.19 or -1.43% aftermarket indication;
Vericel (VCEL) closed up +$1.08 after Thursday’s +$0.42 to $40.15, Wednesday’s $39.73, Tuesday’s $38.98 with a negative -$0.13 or -0.32% aftermarket indication;
Maintaining BUY:
Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC) closed up +$0.06 and has a positive +$0.04 or +0.84% pre-market indication;
bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$0.20 after Thursday’s -$1.04 to $46.84, Wednesday’s-$1.02 to $49.51 and last Friday’s $50.53, with a positive +$0.12 or +0.26% aftermarket indication;
Mesoblast (MESO) closed down -$0.23 to $9.25 after Thursday’s $9.48, Wednesday’s $9.51 and last Friday’s $9.45, with a positive +$0.15 or +1.62% aftermarket indication;
Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed down -$2.48 to $97.19 after Thursday’s -$9.34 or -8.57% to $99.67, Wednesday’s $109.01, Tuesday’s $114.31 and last Friday’s $113.59 with a positive +$1.29 or +1.33% pre-market indication;
Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) closed up +$1.77 to $74.36 after Thursday’s -$7.97 to $72.59, Wednesday’s $80.56, Tuesday’s $83.68 and last Friday’s $81.89, and has a positive +$1.14 or +1.53% pre-market indication;
Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) closed up +$0.48 to $61.75 after Thursday’s -$1.27 to $61.27, Wednesday’s +$1.51 to $62.54 after Tuesday’s -$0.25 to $61.03 and last Friday’s $61.28 with a positive +$1.00 or +1.62% pre-market indication;
The BOTTOM LINE: Last week’s three (3) negative closes, one (10 positive and a holiday followed a week of two (2) negative and three (3) positive closes.
As I stated Friday, “NOT much has changed … I see the pace of vaccinations as a key driver of equities through Q1-Q2/2021” – as a macro view!
However, there is NOT a lot of trust in this market which infects the sector as earnings after a “stay-at-home” Q4 won’t help the “numbers’.
Again, “Forewarned … Earnings LPS (los-per-share) season is coming quickly – my advice, trim and skim!”
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.
