September 5, 2017 8:19pm
As Investors and algorithms rotate on news of Cellectis SA (CLLS) as two P1 trials of its leukemia treatment were put on hold after a fatality was reported
Trading volume is all over the map but generally low to the upside, as traders return from a Labor Day weekend, adding to a downturn in the already fragile sentiment
Pre-open indications: 4 hits and 1 miss
Out and about: Trouble at Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC) as CMO walks and an “interim” is appointed? What are they hiding? AGTC closed down -$0.20 to $4.50 as Q4 and FY17 results have yet to be announced as well? A far cry from 1/3/17’s $9.55 and last 9/7/16’s $12.85 … Why did Fidelity sell months ago?
It’s called premium content for a reason … I define insight from a real-time perspective discussing equity share pricing, attractiveness and support levels as stock pricing changes by the hour … if not the minute!
A key question facing investors is this the … right time to invest in this corner of the market? As a SUBSCRIBER you would now who and when!
I answer one question, in which company should investors commit and keep their money.
Tuesday’s results have implications to Wednesday’s sector activity as a daily report may say little or a lot and it serves as insurance that all indications are being examined and evaluated!
Henry’omics:
From the pre-open’s investor’s newsletter “…some high premiums since 8/17/17 … I wouldn’t chase this upside. Be ready for the headwinds onward, Cellectis SA (CLLS) feels the force of the … downside. Markets just entered the month of September, which is historically and allegedly the worst month of the year for share pricing performance.”
Cell and gene therapy companies are feeling the pain. While traditional research is usually focused on unlocking a way to treat one condition, gene therapies such as may be game changers because they are based on platforms that can be adapted and used to tackle multiple inherited disorders.
There are about 7,000 genetic diseases, and the whole pharmaceutical and biotech industry is now working to solve each of those problems.
Investors seeking to benefit from a potential medical … mission but NEED to consider the long-term foundation of gene therapy companies with transformative assets that … MIGHT … give them a competitive advantage … in TIME, and WHOSE lifetime?
Resting in the cell and gene therapy “bubble bath” were CLLS, on news of a death; BLUE, ONCE, SGMO, QUIRE, QURE, BLCM and AGTC who continues to “poop the bed” – they seem to have forgotten their current shareholders and have a “screw-you” to past stakeholders while new potentials stay clear. CEO Sue Washer is aptly named maybe she should try connecting instead of “washing out” major and past investment funds. Maybe their PR firm should try … CONNECTING the DOTS.
Pass the baton, Sue to those who might COMMUNICATE better or maybe you should write and read another diatribe like your conference calls …!
And then there were the … tradeable: CYTX -$0.01 – who announced a restructuring after the close, BSTG -$0.0223 to a wholesome $0.317 with NO IND and a FAILED strategy who spend to keep the car leases going and 401 payments current; along with FCSC -$0.15, IMUC was also down -$0.01, while ISCO was actually up +$0.24 on 27.8 K shares traded <3 month average = 2.94 K shares> along with PSTI who gets a grant of $8.7 M and STILL drops -$0.01 – says it all.
AST and BTX are also riding to the rear of the sector as both NEED to raise capital to keep the trials – on-going!
Pre-open indications: 4 hits and 1 miss:
- bluebird bio (BLUE) closed down -$5.40 – hit;
- Cellectis SA (CLLS) closed down -$6.52 – hit;
- Juno Therapeutics (JUNO) closed up +$0.76 – miss;
- Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) closed down -$0.70 – hit;
- Verastem (VSTM) closed down -$0.08 – hit;
The advance/decline line scenario of 43 SCGT & RT covered companies:
· The first hour was negative with an A/DL of 13/28 and 2 flats;
· The mid-day was negative with an A/DL of 11/29 and 3 flat;
· The close was negative with an A/DL of 13/27 and 3 flats – the opposite of Friday;
Out and about:
AGTC announced the appointment of Matthew Feinsod, M.D. as Interim Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Feinsod, who previously served as AGTC’s Product Development Officer, will replace Michael Goldstein, M.D. who is leaving to pursue other career opportunities.
- What else are they hiding – a little TOO SUDDEN for the company!
Daily analytics:
U.S. stocks closed firmly lower on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 snapping a six-day winning streak, as investors focused on heightened tensions between the West and North Korea and worries about a lack of progress on President Donald Trump’s pro-growth agenda.
· After four straight days of gains, the Dow fell 234.25 points, or 1.1%, to finish at 21,753.31.
· The S&P 500 shed 18.70 points, or 0.8%, to close at 2,457.85, with eight of the large-cap index’s sectors ending in the red.
· The NASDAQ declined 59.76 points, or 0.9%, to close at 6,375.57.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market; Tuesday traded at 12.23, up +20.73% …
- Monday was a holiday, Friday traded at 10.13, down -4.34%, Thursday traded at 10.58 down -5.70%, Wednesday traded at 11.22, down -4.10% and last Tuesday traded at 10.71, up +3.45%
Welcome to another day of the sector’s roller coaster …
… The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) indicated:
· Tuesday was down -0.95%
· Monday was a holiday
· Friday +0.54%
· Thursday+ 0.99%
· Wednesday +0.63%
· Last Tuesday +0.02%
… The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) indicated:
· Tuesday was down -0.83%
· Monday was a holiday
· Friday +0.75%
· Thursday +2.78%
· Wednesday +2.05%
· Last Tuesday +0.29%
The count - decliners versus gainers:
……. look at the differences in the spreads as decliners jump and %
· Tuesday’s decliners ranged from -0.04% <KITE -$0.07> to -20.26% <CLLS -$6.52> in 27 equities;
· Monday was a holiday
· Friday’s decliners ranged from -0.21% <ONCE -$0.17> to -3.70% <ADRO -$0.45> in 14 equities;
· Thursday’s decliners ranged from -1.47% <NWBO -$0.0024> to -% <ISCO -$0.10> in 14 equities;
· Wednesday’s decliners ranged from -0.03% <KITE -$0.05> to -8.03% <JUNO -$3.52> in 14 equities;
· Last Tuesday’s decliners ranged from -0.06% <KITE -$0.10> to -7.49% <QURE -$0.64> in 16 equities;
Versus
… Look at the percentage’s (%) and spreads …
· Tuesday’s gainers ranged from +0.21% <CYTX +$0.01> to +19.95% <ISCO +$0.24> in 13 equities;
· Monday was a holiday
· Friday’s gainers ranged from +0.03% <KITE +$0.06> to +11.89% <CLLS +$3.42> in 27 equities;
· Thursday’s gainers ranged from +0.05% <KITE +$0.09> to +10.98% <BLUE +$12.35> in 27 equities;
· Wednesday’s gainers ranged from +0.33% <OSIR +$0.02> to +16.67% <ISCO +$0.20> in 26 equities;
· Last Tuesday’s gainers ranged from +0.50% <OSIR +$0.03> to +20.09% <JUNO +$7.33> in 24 equities;
Some of MY working trend lines or indications:
… The greatest volume to the downside: KITE, CLLS, SGMO, BLUE and IMUC
… Upside volume was weighted to: NWBO, JUNO, MDXG, ATHX and ONVO
… Biggest $ downside: CLLS, BLUE, ONCE, SGMO and QURE
… Largest $ upside: RGNX, JUNO, STML, ISCO and MESO
… Flat: HSGX, ADRO and RENE. L
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.
