January 29, 2026 5:05pm

Optimism is an attitude while pessimism is a state of negativity; in either case they don’t last over multiple sessions in these periods

The government funding package voting is shaky, raising the chance that much of the federal government will shut down this week. The shutdown would take effect on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET if lawmakers cannot advance funding legislation.

RMi collects, curates, interprets and disseminates cell and gene therapy sector (C&GT) fact-based news, trustable and verified intel of share pricing data bridging the gap to an investment decision

Never leave a retail investor uninformed!  It’s not always time to buy or sell; but it is time to KNOW why!

No Don Quixote as I continually ask, what do all these stock sources, I-Banks and brokers do for you in providing daily information? Availability of data have made intel both complex; I see myself as a collector and my responsibility is to further identify and interpret data to bridge some gaps in an investment decision.

RMi Pre-opening: Econs, predictors or predators … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14288

 

I chose to speak-up when many analysts, brokers and commentators have shut-up!

 

Thursday: The Dow closed UP +55.96 points or +0.11%, the S&P closed DOWN -9.02 points or -0.13% while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -172.327 points or -0.72%

  • Theme of the session: tech earnings

Wednesday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened positive with 22 incliners, 17 decliners and 1 flat, slipping an hour later to 16 incliners, 24 decliners and 0 flat ending with a positive close of 22 incliners, 17 decliners and 1 flat

Henry’omics: We need to more than consider the macro-economic environment to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy (C&GT) sector

  • Trade deficit soared 94% in November and was higher than 1 year ago, despite tariff efforts as the shortfall with the EU swelled, the Census Bureau reported. Following a month where the trade deficit hit its lowest level since early 2009, it shot up to $56.8 billion, an increase of 94.6% from October. Of that gain, about 1/3rd came with the EU’s deficit rising by $8.2 B.
  • US applications for unemployment benefits decreased modestly to 209,000 for the week ending 1/24, data. Economists expected jobless claims to fall to 205,000. Continuing claims, a proxy for the total number of people receiving benefits, fell by 38,000 to 1.82 million, bringing the four-week moving average of continuing claims lower, to 1.86 million.

The CBOE Fear (VIX) index, Thursday closed at 16.89, after Wednesday’s16.40, after Tuesday’s 16.22, Monday’s 16.09, after Friday’s 15.92, and last Thursday’s 15.65

Metrics: Thursday …

  • The RUT was up +1.23 points or +0.05%,
  • The XLV was down -0.49 points or -0.32%,
  • The NBI was up +16.77 points or +0.28%;
  • The XBI was up +0.80 points or +0.64%
  • The IWM was up +0.07 or +0.03%;
  • The IBB was up +0.22 points or +0.13%,
  • The VIX was up +0.54 points or +3.30% at to 16.89

 

Q1/26 – 2 holidays, 2 neutral, 8 negative and 9 positive closes

Q4/25 …

  • December – 1 holiday, 8 positive and 14 negative closes
  • November – 1 holiday, 8 positive and 11 negative closes
  • October -1 neutral, 11 positive and 12 negative closes

 

Thursday Closing UP (10 of 22) 

  • Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR +$3.54 after Wednesday’s -$1.33),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$1.96),
  • Moderna (MRNA +$1.56),
  • Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR +$1.04 after Wednesday’s -$1.95 after Tuesday’s -$0.10 and Monday’s +$0.24),
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$0.64 after Wednesday’s -$1.35 after Tuesday’s -$0.90),
  • BioNTech (BNTX +$0.61 after Wednesday’s -$3.18 after Tuesday’s +$1.34 after Monday’s +$2.02),
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$0.59 after Wednesday’s -$2.40 after Tuesday’s -$0.44),
  • Entrada Therapeutics (TRDA +$0.51 after Wednesday’s +$0.15),
  • Vericel (VCEL +$0.30),
  • Wave Life Sciences (WVE +$0.28)

Flat (1)

  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN $0.00 after Wednesday’s $0.0050, Tuesday’s -$0.04 and Monday’s +$0.06)

Thursday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 17): 

  • IQIA Holdings (IQV -$4.14 after Wednesday’s -$1.33 after Tuesday’s +$1.73 after Monday’s +$4.12),
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$2.79 after Wednesday’s -$5.17 after Tuesday’s -$6.60 after Monday’s +$3.37),
  • Vertex (VRTX -$2.23 after Wednesday’s +$3.74 after Tuesday’s -$2.67 after Monday’s +$8.43),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ (LENZ -$0.87),
  • Mesoblast (MESO -$0.74),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$0.36 after Wednesday’s -$2.04),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$0.34)
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.17),
  • Agenus (AGEN -$0.12)
  • AxoGen (AXGN -$0.11),

 

The Bottom Line: More of the … WHY

The Dow flipped up, as the S&P and Nasdaq flipped lower as digesting tech earnings reports, today Thursday.

  • The Nasdaq led losses, shedding roughly 0.7%. The S&P 500 shed 0.2%, while the Dow turned slightly positive.
  • The tech moves took focus amid an escalation in US-Iran tensions, stoked by President Trump's warning to Iran that it must agree to a nuclear deal quickly or be hit with military strikes.
  • While digesting the Federal Reserve's first monetary policy decision of 2026, in which it kept interest rates unchanged.

 

The C&GT sector survived, hit slightly after yesterday’s taking profit, although today's bite is not a slice and more blood will be drawn from “our” universe the closer earnings season begins

 

A more than real issue facing the economy is a “possible” government shutdown is looming as Senate Democrats attempt to block a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Since, the Q4 and FY25 earnings cycle is about to appear beginning 2/5 and 2 more on 2/14

•              2/5 – Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR)

•              2/5 – IQVA Holdings (IQV)

•              2/12 – Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Vertex (VRTX)

•              2/13 – Moderna (MRNA)

RISK is always a factor remaining below the surface …  boiled-up as slight shocks of profiteering on upsides shook but not rocked the C&GT sector and markets!

  • As I had also written, cash is king for investors who want to keep some liquidity and avoid having to sell in a down market,

 

January – 5th week:

  • 1/29 - Thursday closed closely positive with 22 incliners, 17 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/28 - Wednesday closed negative with 4 incliners, 35 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/27 - Tuesday closed positive with 21 incliners, 19 decliners and 0 flat
  • 1/26 -Monday closed positive with 19 incliners, 18 decliners and 3 flats

 

As the leading voice of cell and gene therapy investors; I am NOT always a doom and gloom analyst/journalist but a man who has been “there” (BUY, SELL, VC and multiple operating roles) with the gray hair and a readership following with real numbers to prove it!

 

Why do I keep repeating, framed in a different para, so investors can make the connection

The top three (3) performing in the session:    Winners

  • Thursday: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and Moderna (MRNA)
  • Wednesday: Vertex (VRTX), Entrada therapeutics (TRDA) and Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI)
  • Tuesday: IQIA Holdings (IQV), BioNTech (BNTX) and Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS)
  • Monday: Vertex (VRTX), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)

The worst three (3) in the session: Losers

  • Thursday: Vertex (VRTX), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY)
  • Wednesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), BioNTech (BNTX) and Regenxbio (RGNX)
  • Tuesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Vertex (VRTX) and Moderna (MRNA)
  • Monday: CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Moderna (MRNA) and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA)

 

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 it’s 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.