August 31, 2016 6:58am

…The question is whether it is worth the while to sell the limited upside or wait for a few more dimes?

The sector seems vulnerable … on the final trading day and month's end

 

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Companies in my headlights: AGTC, BSTG, BTX, ONCE and VTGN,

 

I also answer one question; in which company should investors put, keep and commit their money!

 

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Indexes and ETFs: The IBB, XBI, IWM and the XLV are NOT indicating 

The Dow futures are DOWN -0.04% and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.03%

 

 

U.S. stock index futures indicated a lower open Wednesday as investors looked ahead to the ADP's private sector payroll report.

European stocks pared losses to trade higher as global markets gear up for Friday's U.S. jobs report.

Asia markets traded mixed, with Japanese shares gaining on the back of a weaker yen, while traders awaited the key August U.S. nonfarm payroll data due Friday.

 

Data docket: ADP's private sector payroll report is due at 8:15 a.m. ET - is seen as a kind of warm-up to government employment figures. Investors will also receive pending home sales data at 10:00 a.m. ET and a Chicago PMI Index at 9:45 a.m. ET.

 

 

The stem, cell, gene and regenerative therapy (SCG&RT) sector closed POSITIVE on Tuesday, Monday and Friday, NEGATIVE on Thursday and last Wednesday.

The SCG&RT sector’s record after the last 5 days (of 43 covered companies):

  • Tuesday closed POSITIVE with 19 decliners, 22 advancers and 2 flats;
  • Monday closed POSITIVE with 18 decliners, 23 advancers and 2 flats;
  • Friday closed POSITIVE with 17 decliners, 25 advancers and 1 flat;
  • Thursday closed NEGATIVE with 29 decliners, 13 advancers and 1 flat;
  • Last Wednesday closed NEGATIVE with 35 decliners, 5 advancers and 3 flats;

 

 

Remembering Tuesday’s closing post, “After a three day rally … with no news, vacation hiatuses and low to middling volume. It is a set-up for a pricing speed bump as a holiday weekend beckons.”

  • Reiterating, “Do we need to hurry up and sell without waiting any bit longer to Friday?  In the meantime, a slow continued melt up and quick down seems to be the most likely scenario.”

Sentiment was weak in Europe and Asia on the last trading day of the month.

  • Stocks have swayed back and forth just a little too much and often

I’m still holding on to “some” equities, recommending selling others and sticking my head in the sand until after Labor Day!

 

 

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

Watch list:

  • The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB) closed Tuesday down -0.20% and is NOT indicating in Wednesday’s pre-market;
  • The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) closed Tuesday down -0.29% and is NOT indicating in Wednesday’s  pre-market;
  • The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) closed down Tuesday -0.41% and is NOT indicating in Wednesday’s pre-market;
  • The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) closed up +0.19% on Tuesday and is NOT indicating in Wednesday’s pre-market.

 

 

Companies in my headlights:

Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC) closed UP +$0.05 to $13.27 following Friday’s $13.22 (-$0.08) post Thursday’s $13.40 (-$0.28) after Wednesday’s $13.58 (-$1.05) after last Tuesday’s $14.63 (-$0.19). It’s been a merry-go-round seven days of trading. The last time we saw a lower close was June 27 at $12.96. I do have concerns that AGTC hasn’t reported financial results/earnings after Fidelity dumped their position and Biogen (BIIB) has been reviewing all internal programs and collaborations. I had taken MY hits with considering an oversold AGTC for three sessions last week – Maintaining BUY;

Biostage (BSTG) closed UP +$0.04 to $1.02 after Monday’s $0.98 (+$0.05). Two good days after a bad week before a long holiday weekend – would you be long? Stemming the tide of downdrafts was accomplished by the CEO and Chairman buying. After popping +$0.09 for a stock that was under a $1.00 – a target is on its back from day traders headed to a long weekend  – Maintaining SELL;

BioTime (NYSEMKT: BTX) closed UP +$0.05 to $2.95 following Monday’s DOWN $2.90(-$0.10). OncoCyte Corporation, a subsidiary sold an aggregate of 3,246,153 "units," with each unit consisting of one share of OncoCyte's common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock, at a price of $3.25 per unit.  The investors include certain OncoCyte shareholders, including George Karfunkel who beneficially owns more than 5% of the outstanding OncoCyte Common Stock. OncoCyte received gross proceeds of approximately $10.5 M from the offering. In connection with the sale of the purchase agreements, OncoCyte has agreed to pay a commission to its placement agent, Cowen and Company, LLC, in the amount of $511 K. It is a positive for the parent <BTX> to have the cash via the “sub” – Maintaining BUY;

Spark Therapeutics (ONCE) closed UP $1.57 to $56.32. Another equity with a roaming week of pricing, Monday’s $54.75, Friday’s $54.77, Thursday’s $53.28 and last Wednesday’s $54.37. It is worth it intruding fees to go after a $1.95 spurt in this market – I’d take the shot - SELL

VistaGen (VTGN) closed UP +$0.31 to $3.30. VTGN had a fluctuating week; Friday’s $2.99 followed by Thursday’s $3.07 and last Wednesday’s $3.33 post last Tuesday’s $3.21. A peak stands out on the chart and I never trust being long over a holiday weekend – SELL;

 

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.