March 30, 2021 7:36am

Volatility is trumping any and all factors as rebalancing steers trading

Pre-open indications:  4 BUYs, 2 SELLs and 1 Maintain SELL

Mentioned: BSTG, BLUE, EDIT, VSTM, NTLA, QURE, SGMO

If you’re looking for sector intel, ideas and opinions or Insight in a volatile climate, RMi defines the mitigating factors of share pricing! 

RMi’s daily report is a primer that may say little or a lot; yet it serves as insurance that all indications are being examined and evaluated.

 

Dow futures are DOWN -0.11% (-35 points), S&P futures are DOWN -0.33% (-13 points) and NASDAQ futures are DOW -0.74% (-96 points)

 

U.S. stock index futures evolved from mixed to down during early morning trading on Tuesday …

European stocks advanced following a recovery from market jitters in the U.S.

Asia-Pacific stocks rose as investors watched movement in shares of Japanese financial services firm Nomura following their Monday plunge.

 

Data Docket: Euro zone economic sentiment jumped by far more than anticipated in March, new survey data revealed Tuesday, jumping to 101 points from 93.4 in February. Analysts had expected a modest climb to 96 points.

 

Henry’omics:

In league with the recent volatility, the cell and gene therapy sector has fallen five (5) out of the last six (6) sessions (last Monday through last night).

While on Monday, the Dow erased a 160-point loss to close 98 (+0.30%) points higher while the S&P 500 (-0.09%) and the Nasdaq (-0.06) finished in the red.

 

Monday’s evening’s recap: “flipping the bird to risk. Volatility heightened during this holiday-shortened week with Q1-ending’ rebalancing among funds and risk avoidance from other investors” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11837

  • The Nasdaq closed DOWN -79.08 points (-0.60%);
  • The IBB closed down -1.27% and XBI closed down -2.78%
  • Sector volume was LOW with 4 of the 6-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the volume of 0 of 27-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) was up +1.88 points or +9.97% at 20.74;
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 6-upside were +0.85% (FATE) to +4.68% (IONS) while the 27-downside range from -0.21% (CLBS) to -9.15% (PGEN);

March: 8 positive, 12 negative and 1 neutral closes <with two (2) sessions left in month and quarter>

February: 9 positive, 10 negative closes and 1 holiday

January: 10 positive, 9 negative closes and 1 holiday

 

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

The Biostage (BSTG) Chronicles … the questions continued

Maintaining Sell: Questions continue …

Biostage (BSTG) closed flat again at $1.50 with 25 shares traded after Friday’s flat with 10 shares traded after Thursday’s flat at $1.50 with 39 shares traded, Wednesday’s -$0.04 to $1.50 with 688 shares traded and last Tuesday’s +$0.04 to $1.54 with 1,001 shares traded.

Question#1: WHEN are the 10-K and 10-Q filings to be filed versus due?

Question#2: RSM US LLP, will their AUDIT “OPINION” be “CRAYONED” regarding the MANY operational issues, lack of strategy and focus especially when they “seem” to be “pumping and promoting “the daily share price with stimulated volume”?

MINORITY PUBLIC shareholders are waiting, watching and weighting responses to MAINTAIN their RIGHTS.

 

BUY from SELL:

Editas Medicine (EDIT) closed down -$0.77 to $39.71 after Friday’s -$1.70 to $40.48, Thursday’s +$1.19 to $42.18 after Wednesday’s -$5.09 to $40.99 and last Tuesday’s -$2.40 to $46.08, with a positive +$1.23 or +3.10% pre-market indication.

Verastem (VSTM) closed down -$0.22 to $2.25 after Friday’s +$0.13 to $2.47, Thursday’s +$0.03 to $2.34, Wednesday’s -$0.06 to $2.31 and last Tuesday’s $2.37 with a positive +$0.15 or +6.67% aftermarket indication.

uniQure NV (QURE) closed up +$0.93 to $30.17 after Friday’s $29.24 with a positive +0.91 or +3.02% pre-market indication on news of QURE not being responsible for a patient's cancer diagnosis (they said on Monday an investigation shows its hemophilia B gene therapy likely wasn't the culprit).

Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) closed down -$0.41 to $11.59 after Friday’s $12.00, Thursday’s $12.27, Wednesday’s $11.56 and last Tuesday’s $12.59 with a positive +$0.38 or +3.28% aftermarket indication

 

SELL:

bluebird bio (BLUE) closed up +$0.96 to $30.94 and has a negative -$0.65 pr -2.10% pre-market indication.

Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) closed up +$0.58 to $65.31 after Friday’s +$1.27 to $64.73, Thursday’s +$2.25 to $63.46 with a negative -$1.35 or -2.07% aftermarket indication.

 

The BOTTOM LINE: It is hard to keep up with a volatile sector, which makes it not a good time to buy.

The past couple weeks have been marked by choppy trading, especially heading into some of the final sessions of Q1.

Yet as, the cell and gene therapy stocks reverse course thus ending lower; short-term opportunities can be found after weakness.

I STILL am a “beware or the cautious man” whose focus has always been “warning analysis” … earnings’ season is NOT over … my advice, trim and skim any new highs if one can!”

Many talk of horizons; “as I have lately, my time horizon is from a Monday to this week’s Thursday’s close.”

 

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.