Indication intelligence, analysis and sector perception

Lower open expected, four trading days left in the year

December 28, 2015 6:29am

RegMed’s pre-open, this is the week to clean up any portfolio “messes” from the year; traders will likely be short this week positioning to start the year … hopeful of losses

Going forward, the clinical data will be of equal importance to cash positions but, review the ATM usage which will prohibit … any appreciation

Henry’s Monday’s “7” indications . The New Year is coming, subscribe or take your losses without complaining!

Critical information ahead of “our” universe’s open! I provide intelligence and analysis for short and near-term investment.

DOW futures are DOWN -0.3% and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.2%

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Monday, as crude oil prices fell following the Christmas weekend.

European equities edged lower on the first day of the final trading week of 2015 with trading volumes expected to be thin on Monday.

Asian equities closed mostly lower, with the Japanese market advancing, while the South Korean Kospi fell and the Shanghai Composite declined.

Data docket: The only economic data of interest on Monday is the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The RegMed sector was closed on Friday following Thursday’s NEGATIVEclose after a POSITIVE close on Wednesday, a NEGATIVE close on Tuesday following a POSITIVE close on last Monday.

The week that was:

· Friday closed for Christmas;

· Thursday closed NEGATIVE <also early> with 27 decliners, 15 advancers and 1 flat;

· Wednesday closed POSITIVE with 9 decliners, 32 advancers and 2 flats;

· Tuesday’s NEGATIVE close with 29 decliners, 13 advancers and 1 flat;

· Monday’s POSITIVE close with 15 decliners, 25 advancers and 3 flats;

You’ve made it to the office, turned on the monitor having just gotten your coffee and it hits you … what are today’s … trades?

Stem, cell and gene therapy RegMed (SCGT&RM) stocks closed lower on Thursday leaving us with an ability to realize appreciation from a few oversold positions or take further losses to start fresh in the New Year.

From a performance standpoint, stocks generally rise in the last few trading days of the years.

With a light amount of data coming out this week, focus will fall upon consumer-based metrics with December consumer confidence figures on Tuesday, and November’s pending home sales data on Wednesday.

Monday’s indications:

Athersys (ATHX) closed DOWN -$0.08 to $1.04. When you’re in the basement of share pricing, it’s hard to climb the stairs of appreciation with a $30 M ATM in place. ATHX isn’t going anywhere soon– HOLD;

Capricor (CAPR) closed DOWN -$0.12 to $2.97. I haven’t been wrong as CAPR has been a consistent loser even when they have been in play with small volume! The CEO has the tendency to NOT listen to anyone especially the BOD; maybe it’s time for a change! Might this downward movement expose a failed offering? SELL;

Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS) closed UP +$0.03 to $1.16. The most recent CEO and his recently departed president and CFO haven’t accomplished … anything since their “anointment” in December of 2014. The stock was trading at $3.83 on last year <12/29/14>. Can this BOD justify its actions in choosing these individuals a year ago while absolving them of signing-off on a new HQ in Basking Ridge, the polo town of NJ? Also, another ATM user, as the tax man <selling> calls – SELL;

Harvard Apparatus RT (HART) closed DOWN -$0.05 to $2.07. Slipping and sliding as the ATM balances some of the selling! 500, 000 shares at $2.00 went out the door to Aspire which will need to be sold against any appreciation, going no where with a “registration rights agreement” in place – HOLD;

Northwest BIO (NWBO) closed DOWN - $0.05 to $3.56. A $3.60 registered direct offering slips in the sidedoor when its review of its operating procedures and controls is NOT yet complete? God bless the fortitude but, this event will only lengthen the review period as even I could see NWBO throwing-up roadblocks to chasten any investigation with the new cash generated. They are just buying time. Mark my words, don’t touch this radio-active substance – SELL;

StemCells (STEM) closed +$0.02 to $0.44. A cutback long overdue, unfortunately for 17 FTEs – 25% of the workforce (of 74 employees) – another $400 K out-the-door while the CEO and five (5) officers take down more than a MILLION a year in total compensation. Should the CIRM conduct a review of its grant to see if this company can LAST? Not that big of a betting man – HOLD;

Vericel (VCEL) closed UP +$0.03 to $2.55. Another debt building company with 1.250 m share converted to 1250 shares of the company’s Series A preferred stock as an offering didn’t quite jell. Their ATM is also in overdrive. Another copycat of Turing’s CEO Martin Shkreli <the poster child for bad business in the pharmaceutical industry, skewered for what was seen as price gouging, leaving very ill patients without treatment>. A Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) supplement to the U.S. FDA to REVISE the labeled indications for use of Epicel® (cultured epidermal autografts) was submitted. VCEL is also where a lifesaving technology is acquired <from Sanofi> as the company files to AMEND its label to increase its pricing and costs <under the banner of pediatric use> leaving needy patients to pay at least a 20% + increase or more. VCEL pursuing a pricing strategy and MORE costly treatment to further their corporate profits in order to recover losses while the CEO takes down a cool million a year - HOLD;

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.

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

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Editor and Publisher ... Henry McCusker enters his tenth (10th) year at RegMed Investors with past experience in sell-side analysis, buy-side management, corporate management and due diligence.

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