March 16, 2022 4:57pm

Build a cash position as the upsides can NOT last the month as some expect a ceasefire being close, I don’t and see expanded escalation

Pre-open indications: 13 Hits and 0 Miss

Note: Covered equities dropped – Athersys (ATHX), Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS), - both below $1.00; CEO left - ReNeuron (RENE.L), Stemline Therapeutics (STML) - acquired; added: Agenus (AGEN), AVROBIO (AVRO), Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) and Caribou Biosciences (CRBU). Back to 35 …

What I provide is an intelligence daily. RMi outlines a daily bell weather of “indications” about what you need to know; it’s what could happen or materialize after the opening and what might happen during the session.

The multiple metrics and Bottom Line say it all succinctly … just the facts

Who else is tracking a broad grouping of cell and gene therapy equities – can you afford to not read the facts supported by real numbers?

If I have learned one thing as a former research analyst, venture and public fund investor now a journalist; it is that your life and your bank account are largely tied to your knowledge of price movements and questioning pricing targets.

 

The Dow closed UP +520.74 points (+1.55%); the S&P closed UP +95.66 points (+2.24%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +487.93 points (+3.77%)

 

Henry’omics:

Indexes ran up … for a second day, hitting highs beyond the February lows after the Fed raised rates and said it would hike another six times this year.

“The war between Ukraine and Russia has sent ripples through global financial markets, pushing commodity prices sharply higher and stocks lower. However, some commodities have cooled off in recent days, while the U.S. equity market tries to find its footing.” <CNBC>

 

Economic Data Docket: Federal Reserve officials expect to hike rates roughly six additional times this year, bringing its benchmark interest rate to nearly 2%, according to projections. The median member of the Federal Open Markets Committee expects the Fed Funds rate to be 1.9% at the end of the year, according to the release. On Wednesday, the central bank raised its target range to be between 25 and 50 basis points. A basis point is equal to 0.01%.

  • Markets implied seven total 25-basis point hikes by the end of the year as the most likely outcome, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
  • Consumers continued to spend in February through at a slower pace than expected, according to a Commerce Department report. Advance retail sales grew 0.3% for the month, slightly below the 0.4% estimate.

 

52-week high:

·         Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR) at $6.95

 

This a.m.’s post, RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “the “always question, what’s sustainable” … I have an “itchy finger” to activate some exits … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12343

 

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

  • Wednesday opened positive at 26 up/7 downs, 2 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 33/2, ending with a positive close of 34/0 and 1 flat;

 

Pre-open Indications: 13 Hits < Biostage (BSTG $0.00), Sell into Strength: Agenus (AGEN +$0.09), Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY +$1.00), bluebird bio (BLUE +$0.23), Fate Therapeutics (FATE +$2.74), uniQure NV (QURE +$0.82), Caribou Therapeutics (CRBU +$0.28): BUY: Beam Therapeutics (BEAM +$4.60), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$7.65), Precigen (PGEN +$0.12), Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO +$0.31), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$5.50), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$1.28)> 0 Miss

 

RegMed/Cell and Gene Therapy Earnings Scorecard Q4/21 and FY21 Results … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11628  … (ATHX) added and dropped from coverage

 

The Biostage (BSTG) Chronicles: shows how the “pimp/pump and promote” works as Wednesday closed flat with 765 shares traded after Tuesday expressed decline of -$0.30 with 380 shares traded after Monday’s flat with 28 shares traded, Friday’s 1,602 shares trading up +$0.39, Thursday -$0.63 with 488 shares traded and last Wednesday -$0.26 with 1,225 shares traded

  • WHO is BUYING these shares of a company with a 3-year-old IND, NO clinical trial initiation, a terminal death lawsuit overhang and a dwindling cash position?
  • A “zombie” company funded by non-U.S. Beijing, China entities
  • By use of the pump/promote process; is BSTG preparing to register the outstanding private placement (PP) shares for a reverse to initiate an offering
  • BSTG is NOT going ANYWHERE without a cash inflow.

 

Key Metrics:

  • Wednesday - Sector volume was LOW with 0 of the 0-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with LOW volume of 13 of 34-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;

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

  • Wednesday, the IBB was up +4% and the XBI was up +4.78%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Wednesday was down -3.16 points or -10.59% at 26.67

 

Jumping with share pricing momentum (15 of 35):

  • Intellia therapeutics (NTLA +$7.65 after Tuesday’s -$0.53 and Monday’s -$2.49),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$6.05 after Tuesday’s +$1.12 and Monday’s -$3.16),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$5.50 after Tuesday’s +$1.98 and Monday’s -$3.36),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM +$4.60 after Tuesday’s +$1.51 and Monday’s -$7.18),
  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$4.07 after Tuesday’s +$1.49 and Monday’s -$3.21),
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE +$2.74 after Tuesday’s +$1.64 and Monday’s -$3.88),
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$2.09 after Tuesday’s +$o.66),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$1.28),
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT +$1,28),
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT +$1.25 after Tuesday’s +$0.83 and Monday’s -$0.98),
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$1,17 after Tuesday’s +$1.00 and Monday’s -$2.05),
  • Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY +$1.00),
  • Vericel (VCEL +$0.86 after Tuesday’s +$1.14 after Monday’s -$1.40),
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$0.82),
  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR +$0.79),

Hammered in today’s market (0 of 0):

Flat:

·         Biostage (BSTG)

 

March, Q1/2022:

  • Wednesday closed positive with 34 incliners, 0 decliners and 1 flat

 

The BOTTOM LINE: As I stated this a.m., “Sector investors need patience and fortitude, keeping many on HOLD waiting for rally attempt can signal a new uptrend. The stock market posted strong action Tuesday, as the major stock indexes finished with big gains. But a key element of a follow-through day — higher volume than the previous day — was lacking. Today is definitely another throw-of-the-dice game; it all depends on the Nasdaq.”

And it was a “follow-through” with the Nasdaq popping.

Reiterating, “The reality continues as investors remain very fearful on adding extra risk in this time of conflict uncertainty.

It’s not the whole picture – the sector needs an action item to offset the divergences to the bottoms.

Awe JUST can NOT depend on algorithmic “rules” …  with the cell and gene therapy sector’s volume remained LOW.

Remember the adage, “It takes two to make a market"; that’s sellers and buyers.

I stick to my view of anticipating the risks – as my careers focus has been “warning analysis”; risk to growth now takes center stage for how long separation of sentiment lasts and how deep the oversold dive.

Q4 and end-of-year earnings are still “gamy” than even I thought.

Earnings’ reporting coming:

·         Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI), Monday, 3/28

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 – it’s more than opinion, I deal in the facts and numbers that back them up.

 

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.

Regulation Analyst Certification (Reg AC): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

 

WHY do I keep reporting on Biostage (BSTG): I WAS there to experience what occurred and saw the decay of transparency and more; it defines purpose that takes courage, resolve and patience to stay the course of asking the questions without response!