RMi Closing Bell: Which way and what’s to happen?

April 20, 2026 4:40pm

Market pops, drops and dribbles … so far under this conflict; uncertainty rules

As valuations run amuck while earnings are about to release, not always a good scenario

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!

I write this blog/newsletter to inform investors with facts and supporting numbers focused on what they need to hear that others will not say or write about – facts in evidence!  I’m NOT at all writing a doom-and-gloom predictions as I am more frequently right than consequentially wrong; I am mostly EARLY in my prognostications!

Monday’s RMi Pre-opening: Shuffling the deck …  https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14388

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

What happened and some of the whys with the numbers behind

… it’s NOT always about BUYs/SELLs … it’s about knowing when and what!

Monday: The Dow closed DOWN -4.87 points or -0.01%, the S&P closed DOWN -16.91 points or -0.24% while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -64.087 points or -0.26%

• Theme of the session: market undispersed with Iranian tensions

Monday (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened negative with 12 incliners, 25 decliners and 3 flats, ending with a negative close of 16 incliner, 21 decliners and 3 flats

• It’s time for fundamentals and trial “stones” to be MORE considered VALUED

The CBOE Fear (VIX) index, Monday closed at 19.04, after Friday’s 17.39, Thursday’s17.81, Wednesday’s 18.17, Tuesday’s 18.47 and last Monday’s 19.33

Metrics: Monday …

• The RUT was up +13.78 points or +0.50%,
• The XLV was down -1.38 points or -0.93%,
• The NBI was down -31.06 points or -0.51%;
• The XBI was down -0.89 points or -0.64%
• The IWM was up +1.59 or +0.58%;
• The IBB was down -0.90 points or -0.51%,
• The VIX was up +1.56 points or +8.91% at to 19.04
• The SPX was down -22.19 or -0.31% to 7,103.87

Q2/26 – 1 holiday, 1 neutral, 4 negative and 7 positive closes

• Q1 -March – 9 positive and 13 negative closes
• February – 1 holiday, 8 negative and 11 positive sessions
• January – 2 holidays, 2 neutral, 9 negative and 9 positive closes

Monday Closing UP (10 of 16) 

• BioNTech (BNTX +$2.27 after Friday’s +$0.80),
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$1.28 after Friday’s -$10.47),
• Moderna (MRNA +$0.87 after Friday’s -$0.96),
• BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.69),
• uniQure NV (QURE +$0.46),
• IQVA Holdings (IQV +$0.41 after Friday’s +$4.35),
• Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$0.26 after Friday’s +$0.79),
• Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE +$0.25),
• Mesoblast (MESO +$0.15),
• Vericel (VCEL +$0.13 after Friday’s +$1.91),

Flat (3)

• Fate Therapeutics (FATE)
• Generation Bio (GBIO) – acquired
• Harvard Apparatus TR (OTCQB: HRGN),

Monday’s Closing DOWN (10 of 21): 

• Vertex (VRTX -$2.02 after Friday’s +$5.55),
• AxoGen (AXGN -$1.27 after Friday’s +$1.13),
• Ionis Therapeutics (IONS -$0.84),
• Compass Therapeutics (CMPX -$0.59 after Friday’s -$0.53),
• Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR -$0.49),
• Entrada Therapeutics (TRDA -$0.43),
• Dyne Therapeutics (DYN -$0.39),
• Agenus (AGEN -$0.37),
• Cellectis SA (CLLS -$0.32),
• CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$0.30 after Friday’s +$2.27),

The Bottom Line: More of the … WHY and a lot of what ifs …

You can a tank through the gaps in sentiment; the S&P 500 is at an all-time high, while consumer sentiment is at an all-time low.

• The latest University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index showed that US consumer confidence this month has plummeted to a record low of 47.6 representing an 11% plunge from March and is the lowest reading in the survey's 74-year history.

I won’t render a prediction but, the Iranian regime loses … everything based on their past greed along with its total population control they have experienced through the last 40 years.

• VIX jumped 2 points to 19.5+ in early Monday trading as geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz cease-fire sent oil surging 6% to $89/barrel and equity futures lower.
• Whether Iran’s cease-fire holds past its 2-day window determines whether markets reverse today’s losses or test higher volatility levels this week.

Fear is still well below its peak ….

• The VIX's move above 19.5 is worth watching but not panicking over. The index closed near 18 on April 16, down nearly 20% from a month ago.
•  The March peak of roughly 35 was severe but smaller than last year's peak of 80, and the recovery from above 30 to below 20 took only eight trading sessions, faster than the 26 sessions needed after last year's Liberation Day sell-off. University of Michigan consumer sentiment sits at about 57, deep in pessimistic territory, so underlying anxiety was already present before this morning's headlines.

Wait for the guns to fire, hoping and praying for no US casualties!

April 4^th Week:

• 4/20 - Monday closed negative with 16 incliners, 21 decliners and 3 flats

April 3^rd Week:

• 4/17 - Friday closed positive with 33 incliners, 5 decliners and 2 flats
• 4/16 - Thursday closed negative with 12 incliners, 26 decliners and 2 flats
• 4/15 – Wednesday closed positive with 26 incliners, 12 decliners and 2 flats
• 4/14 - Tuesday closed positive with 32 incliners, 6 decliners and 2 flats
• 4/13 - Monday closed positive with 33 incliners, 5 decliners and 2 flats

April – 2^nd Week

• 4/10 - Friday closed negative with 7 incliners, 30 decliners and 3 flats
• 4/9 - Thursday closed positive with 24 incliners, 13 decliners and 3 flats
• 4/8 – Wednesday closed positive with 27 incliners, 8 decliners and 5 flats
• 4/7 – Tuesday closed negative with 15 incliners, 21 decliners and 4 flats
• 4/6 - Monday closed positive with 20 incliners, 18 decliners and 2 flats

April – 1^st week

• 4/2 - Thursday closed neutral with 19 incliners, 19 decliners and 2 flats
• 4/1 – Wednesday closed positive with 29 incliners, 8 decliners and 3 flats

Q1/26 Earnings Release Dates:

• AxoGen (AXGN) – Tuesday, 4/28
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) -Thursday, 4/30
• IQVIA Holdings (IQV) – Tuesday, 5/5

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 – closed end funds” (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

• Monday: BioNTech (BNTX), Moderna (MRNA) and BioLife Solutions BLFS)
• Friday: Vertex (VRTX), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP)

The worst three (3) in the session: Losers’

• Monday: Vertex (VRTX), AxoGen (AXGN) and Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS)
• Friday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) Moderna (MRNA) and Compass Therapeutics (CMPX)

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.