May 24, 2023 4:54pm

Just EIGHT days to default; Kevin McCarthy says 'it's not my fault' the Democrats are so 'EXTREME' and want to keep spending as he admits there is STILL differences in debt limit talks with Biden <DM>

The Biostage (OTCQB: BSTG) Chronicles: is the pimp, pump and promote of share pricing back – you bet as Wednesday closed down -$0.11 with 2,070 shares traded after a week of flats, downslides and 1 positive close. Question, are Beijing’s yuan converted to dollars calling the “shots” in “propping and pumping” the shares’ pricing?

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

Subscription is coming, it is not conscription but, an offer to join our collective of like-minded investors!  Join me … in the NO spin zone.

If I have learned one thing as a former research analyst in a venture and public fund, operating executive, adjunct (MBA) business school professor now a journalist; it is that your life and your portfolio are largely tied to your knowledge of price movements and questioning pricing targets.

 

The Dow closed DOWN -255.59 points (-0.77%), the S&P closed DOWN -30.34 points (-0.73%) while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -76.08 points (-0.61%)

 

Henry’omics:

We need to more than consider the economic environment - rising rates and inflation to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy companies.

Indexes dived as U.S. lawmakers struggled to reach a deal on the country’s debt ceiling.

“House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said late morning in a press conference that negotiators remain at odds on spending caps, and blamed the Democrats for coming to the table so late in the process. McCarthy also said that he believes the negotiating teams could make progress Wednesday.” <CNBC>

Economic Data Docket: minutes from the Fed’s meeting earlier in May.

  • Fed officials were divided at their last policy meeting on what the bank’s next move should be on interest rates, with several officials leaning toward a pause and many officials wanting to keep options open given uncertainty about the outlook.

 

Wednesday (5/24) … RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “debt ceiling talks drag-on after breakdown. It could take a week to write any “deal” and pass it through Congress, raising the stakes to reach an agreement in the next couple days ahead of a June 1 deadline for default from the Treasury.” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12973

 

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

  • Wednesday’s advance/decline line opened negative at 6 up/ 28 down and 1 flat, stayed negative with 3 up/ 32 down and 0 flat at the mid-day, ending with a negative close of 5/30 and 0 flats

 

Key Metrics:

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

  • Wednesday, the IBB was down -1.40% and the XBI was down -1.94%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Wednesday was up +1.51 points or +8.15% at 20.04

 

Closing Down (10 of 30):

  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$1.69 after Tuesday’s -$0.94 and Monday’s +$2.37),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$5.91 after Tuesday’s -$2.23 and Monday’s +$2.32),
  • Ultragenyx (RARE -$1.44),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$1.32 after Tuesday’s +$1.40 and Monday’s +$3.67),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$1.13 after Tuesday’s -$0.64),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$1.00 after Tuesday’s +$1.57 and Monday’s +$1.52),
  • Prime Medicine (PRME -$0.95),
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE -$0.80 after Tuesday’s -$0.94),
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.76 after Tuesday’s +$0.65 and Monday’s -$2.01),
  • Regenxbio (RGNX -$0.75 after Tuesday’s -$0.14),

Closing Up (5 of 5):

  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR +$0.72 after Tuesday’s -$1.48 and Monday’s +$0.68),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.32),
  • MiMedx (MDXG +$0.07 after Tuesday’s +$0.06),
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI +$0.06),

 

Q2/23 – May

  • Wednesday closed negative with 5 incliners, 30 decliners and 0 flat
  • Tuesday closed positive with 17 incliners, 18 decliners and 0 flat
  • Monday closed positive with 29 incliners, 4 decliners and 2 flats

 

The BOTTOM LINE: I try to keep it simple … and short!

I follow the dictum, quoting Churchill that “short words are best, and the old words when short are best of all.”

I have been warning for days that a HIT was coming to share pricing … “when fear takes over, investors tend to sell first and ask questions second — and that’s what we are seeing,”

Reiterating, “Debt-ceiling negotiations are a lose-lose for equity investors at this point, as a failure to strike a deal will lead to an immediate recession, while a deal will strain liquidity from markets as the US Treasury issues trillions in new bonds, which are newly born.” <Jose Torres, Interactive Brokers>

It ain’t over …

As I have stated, “The cell and gene therapy sector is experiencing yet another “flight of Icarus” …  since “our” universe have oscillated between gains and losses since the first of 2023!”

There is VALUE out there however, it’s about playing or betting the timing of the sector. Even as I had stated, “I wouldn’t be buying into this rally … I would be selling into this upside!”

A very appropriate quote, “You don't do well by trying to be right; it is impossible for humans. You do well by figuring out when you're wrong faster than others do.” <Nassim Nicholas Taleb>

 

There are clear winners — and losers — at the start of May.

The top three (3) performing in the session:

·         Wednesday: Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR), BioLife Solutions (BLFS) and MiMedx (MDXG)

·         Tuesday: Blueprint Medicine (BPMC), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP)

·         Monday: CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)

While The worst three (3) in the session:

·         Wednesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) – again, Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) and Ultragenyx (RARE)

·         Tuesday: Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), and Sage Therapeutics (SAGE)

·         Monday: uniQure NV (QURE), AxoGen (AXGN) and Generation Bio (GBIO),

 

Earnings:

RegMed Investors (RMi) Research Note: Q1/23 earnings reporting dates, net losses, cash positions and runway outcomes … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12923  -

Sector earnings season have drawn to a close …

·         One (1) net income from 34 reported to date:

·         Mesoblast (MESO) reports 5/25 - Thursday

 

WHY (?) do I keep posting, so investors can get a daily update of the sector's share pricing and some individual companies TRUTHS while electronic trading chews on our portfolio edges.

I am definitely considered a contrarian depending on the session – one has to be a watcher of the ups and downs as well as measurer of sentiment. I am also a NO trust investor but, a validate and verify journalist/analyst.

The NO spin zone! U.S. public shareholders deserve accountability …

Biostage (OTCQB: BSTG) …

·         Wednesday closed down -$0.11 with 2,070 shares traded after Tuesday closed up +$0.04 with 110 shares traded, Monday closed FLAT after Friday closed FLAT with 23 shares traded, Thursday closed FLAT with 1,220 shares traded and last Wednesday closed down -$0.31 with 951 shares traded <3-month average =1,457 shares>

·         Question: Review the number of shares traded … is OTCQB: BSTG a Ponzi scheme (with their pump/promote buy and sell agenda) as shares are bought to replace those sold?

·         Accumulated deficit:  $85,901 M – still NO product in sight!

 

My question that resounds, that should be asked is how many companies are at the end of sentiments …  leash?

 

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.