November 5, 2015 6:31am

 

So far, no big ruckus over financial results   Ask yourself, do you know what stocks you own and why you own them? What are the catalysts? What's the pipeline look like? Do you understand the CEO's vision and what has to go right as compared to the what ifs of something going wrong?

Henry’s Thursday’s “7” picks. Subscription required: http://www.regmedinvestors.com/user/register

 

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DOW futures and NASDAQ futures are UP +0.2%

 

U.S. stock index futures indicated a higher open on Thursday as traders looked to Friday's key employment report and reacted to comments on Wednesday from Fed Chair Janet Yellen, who reiterated the possibility of raising rates in December, given supportive data.

European stocks are bouncing between small gains and losses, with oil shares under pressure while some companies including Adidas push higher following financial updates.

Asian stocks put up a mixed performance on Thursday, after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said that December's monetary policy meeting would be a "live possibility" for a rate hike if upcoming economic data were supportive. China's key Shanghai Composite trimmed gains to close up 1.9%. the Bank of Japan (BOJ) maintained their upbeat view on the country's economy but many of them warned that slowing growth in emerging markets, if prolonged, could weigh on exports, Weakness in the banking sector led Australia's S&P ASX 200 index lower on Thursday. South Korea's Kospi index edged down in range bound trade.

 

Data docket: A reading on weekly jobless claims is due at 8:30 a.m. ET, with that data coming just before Friday’s much-anticipated monthly jobs report. Also at 8:30 a.m., figures for Q3 productivity and labor costs are expected. Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England on Thursday is set to deliver three major updates: a rate decision for the U.K., minutes from the policy-setting meeting and an inflation report. At about 9:10 a.m. ET, Fed vice Chair Stanley Fischer is expected to take part in a panel discussion about banking culture. At 12:45 p.m. ET, speeches are expected from both Fed Gov. Daniel Tarullo and Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart.

 

 

The RegMed sector closed POSITIVE on Wednesday, Tuesday and Monday following NEGATIVE closes on Friday and last Thursday.

Wednesday closed POSITIVE with 12 decliners, 28 advancers and 3 flats following Tuesday’s POSITIVE close with 15 decliners, 26 advancers and 4 flats after Monday’s POSITIVE close with 1 decliner, 39 advancers and 3 flats of my 43 covered companies.

 

 

The stem, cell and gene therapy RegMed (SCGT&RM) sector stocks finished positive on Wednesday to extend gains for a third session in a row.

  • It’s a good idea to pay attention to companies’ quarterly financial results <notice I didn’t say earnings announcements> despite a few  executives’ insistence on using boiler-plate language when communicating with … “their” companies’ owners!

 

 

Thursday’s trading indications, stocks to watch:

  • Athersys (ATHX) will release its Q3/15 financial results at approximately 4:00 PM ET and host a conference call shortly thereafter at 4:30 PM EST to review the results. Let’s hope there is an unveiling of an unnamed partner to replace Chugai and Pfizer. ATHX closed UP +$0.01 to $1.05 – for the CEOs sake and the MultiStem platform, I hope news is positive. November so far, October, September and August, July and June  have NOT been good for the share price in relation to share pricing in May - HOLD ;
  • Applied Genetic Technology (AGTC) will host a conference call beginning at 5:00 pm ET. AGTC closed UP +$0.71 to $13.79 with 132.9 K shares trading hands <3 month average = 126.9 K shares>. November has held above $13.00 while October defined a range of $12.00 to $13.64 while September’s trading range was $12.81 to $16.96. I am “surprised” by the deflation of the share price as Biogen (BIIB) invested at $20.62. How many times, have I been “hammered” by the BUY ranking – TOO many but I am still a believer. The conference call will be interesting after last quarters “event” – still a BUY;
  • Capricor (CAPR) closed DOWN -$0.07 <after being FLAT on Tuesday> to $4.00 with 16.1 K shares traded <3 month average = 23.5 K shares>.   I have been negative since March and more than not often correct about the inflation and deflation of the share pricing - time after time after time.  Be ready for a pending offering - Maintaining SELL;
  • Opexa (OPXA) closed UP +$0.45 to $3.48 with 1.822 M shares traded <3 month average = 79.5 K shares> - a rubber duck floating on a Sargasso Sea, just wait for the winds to blow!   After yesterday’s upgrade form I-Bank, Chardon; what is the substance? The week so far was priced 11/3 at $3.03, 11/2 was $2.94 and October average a trading range of $2.83 <10/30> to $3.00 on 10/1 – Overbought – SELL;
  • uniQure (QURE) closed UP +$1.56 to $20.59 after Tuesday’s +$0.25. QURE advanced +$1.05 or +1.33% to close Tuesday's session at $19.03. The share price has vacillated in the 52 week range of $9.69 and $36.38 and yesterday’s daily range of $19.02 to $20.68. Average 3 month volume is 338.8 K and the 10 day average volume is 262.25K shares. Over the last three days QURE's shares have advanced 6.55% and in the past week it has moved up 3.14%. However, in the last six months, the stock has lost -22.96% but year to date, the shares have picked up 28.49%. QURE has market capitalization of $441.2 M and an enterprise value of $252.49 M.  QURE is UP +$0.40 or +1.93% to $20.99 in the aftermarket - BUY;
  • VistaGen (OTCQB: VSTA) closed DOWN on Wednesday -$0.40 on 395 share volume <after Tuesday’s -$0.49 on 345 share volume> to $6.60. VSTA’s first patient was dosed in a P2A study of its orally available AV-101 in adult patients with treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The study is being fully funded by the U.S. NIH, and conducted at the U.S. National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH - an important factor with a milestone in advancing AV-101 clinical development program.  AV-101’s has a differentiated mechanism of action, oral availability, strong pre-clinical efficacy and excellent clinical safety.  BUY

 

 

The information included above as well as individual companies and/or securities mentioned should be construed as guidance in RMi reviews.

The facts stated and the opinions given in this publication are based on data and information considered to be reliable and have been carefully worked into my qualitative analyses and prognoses. However, no guarantee can be given as to their fairness, accuracy or completeness.

Henry McCusker, the editor and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication.