January 30, 2026 4:53pm

Volatile week continues as “Econs were the predators <as I wrote>; sucking the” breath” from the alternating share pricing sessions”

End-of-month and a Friday, a down-turn had to happen after this volatile month

News: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (RARE -$0.20 or -0.82% to $24.07) has resubmitted its Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking accelerated approval for UX111 (rebisufligene etisparvovec) AAV9 gene therapy as a treatment for patients with Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA) to the FDA. The submission contains substantial longer-term data on multiple measures of neurologic benefit to support an intermediate clinical endpoint for accelerated approval supported further by CSF heparan sulfate and other biomarker data, as agreed with the FDA during the last clinical review.

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!

TGIF

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!

 

Friday: The Dow closed DOWN -179.09 points or -0.36%, the S&P closed DOWN -29.98 points or -0.43% while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -223.305 points or -0.94%

  • Theme of the session: earnings and Kevin Warsh to lead the Fed

Friday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened negative with 2 incliners, 32 decliners and 1 flat, ending with a negative close of 6 incliners, 32 decliners and 2 flats

  • Despite today’s weaknesses, indexes flopped into a positive month. The S&P 500, Dow were up more than 1% for January, while the Nasdaq was heading for a 0.7% gain. The small cap-focused Russell 2000 has jumped more than 5% in the month.

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

  • The producer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% for the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. The increase was higher than the 0.2% rise in November and more than the consensus estimate for a 0.3% increase. December’s core producer price index advanced 0.7%, while economists had anticipated a 0.3% tick higher.
  • The annual rate to close 2025 was at 3%, down from 3.5% for 2024 and moving closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Moreover, much of the increase came from a 0.7% jump in services, while final demand goods prices were unchanged on the month.  Economists have been watching for the impact of tariffs, which are generally felt more on the goods side.
  • American Association of Individual Investors. More investors say they’re optimistic or neutral about the short-term direction of the market. Bearish sentiment narrowed to 30.8% in the latest poll from 32.7% in the prior survey, the 6th time in 9-weeks that pessimism was below its historical average of 31.0%. Bullish sentiment increased to 44.4% from 43.2% last week, and was above the long-run historical average of 37.5% for the 9th time in 12-weeks.  Neutral sentiment toward stocks held steady, at 24.8% of respondents versus 24.1% the week before the 80th time in 82 weeks that neutral sentiment was below its historical average of 31.5%.

The CBOE Fear (VIX) index, Friday closed at 17.66, after Thursday’s 16.89, Wednesday’s16.40, after Tuesday’s 16.22, Monday’s 16.09, and last Friday’s 15.92

Metrics: Friday …

  • The RUT was down -41.03 points or -1.55%,
  • The XLV was up +0.92 points or +0.60%,
  • The NBI was down -59.02 points or -1%;
  • The XBI was down -1.99 points or -1.57%
  • The IWM was down -3.70 or -1.40%;
  • The IBB was down -1.82 points or -1.04%,
  • The VIX was up +0.78 points or +4.63% at to 17.66

 

Q1/26 – 2 holidays, 2 neutral, 9 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

 

Friday Closing UP (6 of 6)

  • AxoGen (AXGN +$0.85 after Thursday’s -$0.11),
  • Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR +$0.21 after Thursday’s +$3.54 after Wednesday’s -$1.33),
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI +$0.05),
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO +$0.02256),
  • Compass Therapeutics (CMPX +$0.02),
  • Dyne Therapeutics (DYN +$0.01)

Flat (2)

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

Friday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 32): 

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY -$8.73 after Thursday’s -$2.79 after Wednesday’s -$5.17 after Tuesday’s -$6.60 after Monday’s +$3.37),
  • Vertex (VRTX -$5.78 after Thursday’s -$2.23 after Wednesday’s +$3.74 after Tuesday’s -$2.67 after Monday’s +$8.43),
  • IQIA Holdings (IQV -$5.33 after Thursday’s -$4.14 after Wednesday’s -$1.33 after Tuesday’s +$1.73 after Monday’s +$4.12),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$3.39 after Thursday’s -$0.34)
  • BioNTech (BNTX -$3.02 after Thursday’s +$0.61 after Wednesday’s -$3.18 after Tuesday’s +$1.34 after Monday’s +$2.02),
  • Moderna (MRNA -$2.79 after Thursday’s +$1.56),
  • Lenz Therapeutics (LENZ (LENZ -$1.96 after Thursday’s -$0.87),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$1.67),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$1.21 after Thursday’s +$1.96),
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$0.94 after Thursday’s +$0.64 after Wednesday’s -$1.35 after Tuesday’s -$0.90),

 

The Bottom Line: More of the … WHY

Indexes slid on Friday as volatility slipped the indexes to their 3rd straight weekly loss. All the gauges remain on pace for January gains.

President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to lead the Fed, against a background of a rising dollar and a screeching halt to 2026's roaring metals rally.

  • The nomination of Kevin Warsh for Fed chair have lessened the odds of Jerome Powell’s staying on at the bank after his chairmanship ends in May.
  • Warsh has a hawkish record on interest rates but has recently voiced support for cuts — which Trump has aggressively campaigned for.
  • The S&P 500 fell -0.7% and the Nasdaq -0.9%, while the Dow dropped -0.9%.

 

Kink of the last January session, on the earnings front, Apple's (AAPL) shares fell 2% after its results closed out a mixed bag for the week.

 

Some metrics:

  • The Consumer Discretionary Sector (XLP) — which includes companies that sell goods and services customers want, but aren't essential — rose 0.5%. The Consumer Staples Sector (XLY) — companies that sell essential products like food and household goods — also climbed nearly 0.4%.
  • The Materials Sector (XLB) and the Technology Sector (XLK) were the biggest losers on Friday, falling about 0.9% and 1%, respectively.

 

The C&GT sector got “knifed deep”, after yesterday’s profit-taking, 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 and end:

  • 1/30 – Friday closed negative with 6 incliners, 32 decliners and 2 flat
  • 1/29 - Thursday closed 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

January – 4th week:

  • 1/23 – Friday closed negative with 6 incliners, 33 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/22 – Thursday closed positive with 33 incliners, 6 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/21 – Wednesday closed positive with 33 incliners, 6 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/20 - Tuesday closed negative with 16 incliners, 22 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/19 – Monday was a market holiday, MLK Jr day

January – 3nd week:

  • 1/16 – Friday closed negative with 11 incliners, 28 decliners and 1 flat
  • 1/15 - Thursday closed negative with 8 incliners, 30 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/14 – Wednesday closed positive with 27 incliners, 11 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/13 – Tuesday closed neutral with 19 incliners, 19 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/12 – Monday closed neutral with 19 incliners, 19 decliners and 2 flats

January 2nd week

  • 1/9 - Friday closed negative with 10 incliners, 28 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/8 – Thursday closed negative with 7 incliners, 30 decliners and 3 flats
  • 1/7 – Wednesday closed positive with 33 incliners, 4 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1/6 – Tuesday closed positive with 27 incliners, 11 decliners and 2 flats
  • 1 /5 - Monday closed negative with 18 incliners, 21 decliners and 1 flat

January’s 1st week:

  • 1 /2 - Friday closed positive with 18 incliners, 17 decliners and 5 flats
  • 1/1 -Thursday was a holiday, New Years Day

 

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

  • Friday: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR), AxoGen (AXGN) and Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI)
  • 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

  • Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and Vertex (VRTX)
  • 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.