RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: very few winners in volatile trading

March 8, 2021 4:48pm

RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: very few winners in volatile trading

As small cap risks manifested downside momentum, forgotten fundamentals with a lack of rhyme or reason trampling any sector sentiment in today’s session

WAIT, if the Phoenix can rise, although a myth – come-backs are coming

Pre-open indication results: 3 HITs and 7 MISS

Numbers based facts speak better then opinion as I see answers in numbers to speak truth over opinion!

Who is defining the metrics for investors and keeping you notified of the sector and market fluctuations?  What I provide is a trusted source of share pricing intelligence

The Dow closed UP +306.21 points (+0.97 %); the S&P closed DOWN -20.58 points (-0.54%) while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -310.99 points (-2.41%)

Henry’omics:

The Dow climbed, the S&P (erased a +1% gain to close- 0.5%) and Nasdaq (sliding -2.4%) were car-wrecks

Today’s market activity is another manifestation of the rotation underway as investors switch into shares of companies whose fortunes are closely tied to the economic cycle. That’s been painful for small to mid-cap cell and gene therapy shares that become less appealing amid bond-market turbulence that’s sent yields on 10-year Treasuries to 1.61%.

Yet, for March, the Dow is up 3.1%, while the Nasdaq is off by 2.1%; while, the S&P 500 is up almost 3%.

RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “the sector is still rotating with a slightly slippery slope. When the selling pressure relaxes, the downtrodden will be recognized.” …  https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11800

Pre-open indication results:  3 HITs <SELL: Biostage (BSTG -$0.03 with 6.119 shares); Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM -$0.01), Cellectis SA (CLLS +$0.09), and 7 MISS < Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC -$0.22), bluebird bio (BLUE -$0.43), Homology Medicine (FIXX -$0.02), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$5.22), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$1.03), Ultragenyx (RARE -$3.50), Editas Medicine (EDIT -$1.09),

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

• Monday opened positive at 30/12 2 flat and 1 acquired, strayed negative at the mid-day to 8/26 and 1 acquired, closing negative at 3/30, 2 flats and 1 acquired;

There are clear winners and losers:

Jumping with share pricing momentum:

• Solid Bioscience (SLDB), Cellectis SA (CLLS), Caladrius Bioscience (CLBS) to name 3 of the 3 inclining of the 35 covered

Hammered in today’s market:

• Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Ultragenyx (RARE), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) to name 5 of the 30 declining of the 35 covered

Key metrics:

• Sector volume was LOW with 1 of the 3-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the volume of 6 of 30-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;

• Monday’s percentage (%) of the 3-upside were +0.49% (CLLS) to +2.23% (CLBS) while the 30-downside ranges from -0.21% (FIXX) to -10.08% (NTLA);

Monday’s (3 of 3) incline

• Solid Bioscience (SLDB +$0.12);
• Cellectis SA (CLLS +$0.05 after Friday’s -$1.12 and Thursday's earnings’ release);
• Caladrius Bioscience +$0.045);

Monday’s (10 of 30) decliners:

• Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$5.22 after Friday’s -$2.61);
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$4.77 after Friday’s +$6.02);
• Fate Therapeutics (FATE -$4.49);
• Ultragenyx (RARE -$3.50 after Friday’s -$0.47);
• BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$2.37 after Friday’s -$0.96);
• Sage Therapeutics (SAGE -$2.08 after Friday’s +$6.33
• Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$2.02 after Friday’s +$0.62);
• Vericel (VCEL -$1.76 after Friday’s +$2.10);
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$1.59 after Friday’s +$1.51);
• Editas Medicine (EDIT -$1.09 after Friday’s +$1.27);

Closing 1 –Verastem (VSTM) and 1 - Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

Sentiment and COVID-19 infections:

• A World Health Organization official urged world leaders to be careful when issuing guidelines on what people can and can’t do after they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19 – who can believe anything they have to say?

Infection cases <Million>: never to forget …

• Monday 29.01 M cases,
• Monday’s death rate totaled 525,312 <Johns Hopkins University>

Stats:

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

• Monday, the IBB closed down -1.94% and XBI closed down -2.77%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

• Monday was up +1.20 points or +4.87% at 25.96

Upside volume: low

• Monday: 1 out of the 3-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

Downside volume: low

• Monday: 6 out of the 30-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: % and pricing drop

• Monday’s percentage (%) of the 3-upside were +0.49% (CLLS) to +2.23% (CLBS) while the 30-downside ranges from -0.21% (FIXX) to -10.08% (NTLA);

March, the 3^rd month of Q1/21:

Monday (3/8) closed negative with 3 advancers, 30 decliners, 1 flat and 1 acquired

The BOTTOM LINE: There continues to be a lot of confusion in the sector;

Markets are scary, frightening investors – volatilities basis is pure speculation i.e., gambling.

NOT for me - I am STILL sending up a red flag on stock pricing until earnings’’ season completes its run.

This sell-off has been coming for months and weeks, it just got stronger in March, remember when I mentioned the “Ides of march” coming early!

There is always a shift going-on however, these last two (2) months and one (1) week continues to leave me … QUESTIONING each WEEK as I have said recently - my horizon on Monday is to meet on Friday.

As to earnings’ season: “Again, “forewarned … earnings LPS (loss-per-share) season is upon us – my advice has been … trim and skim … if one can!”

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.