November 20, 2020 5:27pm

As the stem, cell and gene therapy sector resembles a safe haven for some equities

Pre-indication Results: 1 HIT and 2 MISS

Week in review …

An “intelligence newspaper” for smart investing in the RegMed, gene and cell therapy sector.  I track the numbers, so there’s no question re my opinion; so, you can do what others can't.

The Dow closed DOWN -219.75 points (-0.75 %); the S&P closed DOWN -24.33 points (- 00.68%) while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -49.74 points (-0.42%)

 

Henry’omics:

Indexes fell on Friday as rising new coronavirus cases, coupled with questions around disagreement between the Fed and Treasury’s funding for an emergency programs which could further dampen economic recovery.

 

Pre-open indication: 1 HIT < Biostage (BSTG +$0.00 with 1,704 shares traded)> and 2 MISS < CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$0.46), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$1.25)>

 

This morning, I stated in this a.m.’s newsletter – RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: worsening infections overshadow any semblance of confidence … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11644

 

RegMed/Cell and Gene therapy 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: progressions and regressions …

  • Friday opened negative at 8/24 and 3 flats, flipped positive at the mid-day at 17/15 and 3 flats, closing positive at 20/13 and 2 flats;
  • Thursday opened positive at 15/18 and 2 flats, flipped negative at the mid-day at 14/19 and 2 flats, closing positive at 19/15 and 3 flats;
  • Wednesday opened positive at 18/14 and 3 flats, flipped positive at the mid-day at 17/15 and 3 flats, closing negative at 7/25 and 3 flats;
  • Tuesday opened negative at 6/27 and 2 flats, flipped positive at the mid-day at 18/15 and 2 flats, closing positive at 18/15 and 2 flats;
  • Monday opened positive at 19/16 and 2 flats, stayed positive at the mid-day at 22/12 and 1 flat, closing positive at 19/15 and 1 flat;

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was the usual LOW with 5 of the 20-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 9 of 13-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Friday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.09% (GBT) to +16.88% (MESO) while the 13-downside ranges from -0.11% (QURE) to -4.30% (CLLS);

 

Hammered in today’s market:

  • Cellectis SA (CLLS), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), ReNeuron (RENE.L), bluebird bio (BLUE), AxoGen (AXGN) to name 5 of the 13 declining of the 35 covered

Jumping with share pricing momentum:  

  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Mesoblast (MESO), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Ultragenyx (RARE) to name 5 of the 20 inclining of the 35 covered

 

The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) and the SPDR S&P ETF (XBI) indicators:

  • Friday, the IBB closed up +0.56% and XBI closed up +0.78%
  • Thursday, the IBB closed up +0.12% and XBI closed up +0.59%
  • Wednesday, the IBB closed down -0.51% and XBI closed up +0.53%
  • Tuesday, the IBB closed down -0.23% and XBI closed up +0.88%
  • Monday, the IBB closed up +0.01% and XBI closed up +0.48%

 

Friday’s (10 of 20) incliners:

  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE +$2.94);
  • Mesoblast (MESO +$1.99);
  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$1.55 after Thursday’s -$1.23, Wednesday’s -$5.32, Tuesday’s +$0.70 and Monday’s +$1.45);
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$1.25 after Thursday’s +$2.03, Wednesday’s -$1.35, Tuesday’s +$0.78 and Monday’s -$6.05);
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$0.89 after Thursday’s -$1.64, Wednesday’s -$3.85, Tuesday’s -$1.75 and Monday’s -$4.46);
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$0.46 after Thursday’s +$2.49, Wednesday’s -$1.82, Tuesday’s +$1.81 and Monday’s +$2.80);
  • Chinook therapeutics (KDNY +$0.43);
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT +$0.39 after Thursday’s +$0.34, Wednesday’s -$1.06, Tuesday’s -$0.31 and Monday’s -$0.17);
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM +$0.32 after Thursday’s +$0.44 and Wednesday’s +$0.09);
  • Precigen (PGEN +$0.17);

Friday’s (13 of 13) decliners:

  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS -$1.31 after Thursday’s -$0.23, Wednesday’s -$1.83, Tuesday’s +$0.36 and Monday’s +$0.58);
  • bluebird bio (-$1.09 after Thursday’s -$0.27 and Wednesday’s -$1.93);
  • ReNeuron (RENE.L -$1.00 after Thursday’s +$1.00);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS -$0.95 after Thursday’s +$1.08, Wednesday’s +$1.32, Tuesday’s -$0.36 and Monday’s +$0.94);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS -$0.84 after Thursday’s +$0.27, Wednesday’s +$0.73, Tuesday’s +$1.09 and Monday’s -$1.02);
  • AxoGen (AXGN -$0.42 after Thursday’s -$0.26);
  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR -$0.27);
  • MiMedx (MDXG -$0.18);
  • Regenxbio (-$0.13);
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.08);
  • Sangamo therapeutics (SGMO -$0.07 after Thursday’s -$0.16);
  • Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC -$0.06 after Thursday’s -$0.26);
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$0.05 after Thursday’s +$3.40, Wednesday’s -$1.63, Tuesday’s +$0.40 and Monday’s +$0.74);

Closing Flat -1 Biostage (BSTG) and 1 -Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

 

Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: a 360 degrees comparison of % and pricing

  • Friday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.09% (GBT) to +16.88% (MESO) while the 13-downside ranges from -0.11% (QURE) to -4.30% (CLLS);
  • Thursday’s percentage (%) of the 19-upside were +0.19% (RGNX) to +7.95% (QURE) while the 13-downside ranges from -0.02% (FATE) to -6.03% (AGTC);
  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 7-upside were +0.34% (MESO) to +6.70% (CLLS) while the 25-downside ranges from -0.25% (RGNX) to -7.42% (SGMO);
  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 18-upside were +0.45% (GBT) to +4.22% (PSTI) while the 15-downside ranges from -0.09% (BLUE) to -66.33% (BCLI);
  • Monday’s percentage (%) of the 19-upside were +0.60% (FIXX) to +8.38% (PGEN) while the 15- downside of -0.35% (KDNY) to -8.16% (BSTG);

 

Sentiment and a few daily indicators:

Friday’s losses put the Dow and S&P 500 on pace for their first weekly declines in three weeks as sentiment soured after a disagreement between the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve over the continuation of funding for some of the emergency programs implemented during the recession.

Infection cases <Million>:

  • Friday 11.71 M cases
  • Thursday 11.53 M cases
  • Wednesday 11.36 M cases
  • Tuesday 11.2 M cases
  • Monday 11.03 M cases

Friday’s death rate totaled 252.564 after Thursday’s 250,548 after Wednesday’s 284.824, Tuesday’s 247,437, Monday’s 246,224 and last Friday’s 242,536 <Johns Hopkins University>

 

Stats:

Upside volume: 

  • Friday: 5 out of the 20-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Thursday: 6 out of the 19-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday: 1 out of the 7-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 4 out of the 18-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 8 out of the 19-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Friday was up +0.59 points or +2.55% at 23.70
  • Thursday was down -0.73 points or -3.06% at 23.11
  • Wednesday was up + points or +% at 22
  • Tuesday was up +0.26 points or +1.16% at 22.71
  • Monday was down -0.65 points or -2.81% at 22.45

Downside volume:

  • Friday: 9 out of the 13-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Thursday: 4 out of the 13-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday: 5 out of the 25-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Tuesday: 7 out of the 15-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Monday: 5 out of the 15-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

 

November, the 2nd month of Q4 …

Friday closed positive with 20 advancers, 13 decliners and 2 flats 

Thursday closed positive with 19 advancers, 13 decliners and 3 flats 

Wednesday closed negative with 7 advancers, 25 decliners and 3 flats 

Tuesday closed positive with 18 advancers, 15 decliners and 2 flats 

Monday (11/16) closed positive with 19 advancers, 15 decliners and 1 flat   

Friday closed positive with 22 advancers, 11 decliners and 1 flat 

Thursday closed negative with 15 advancers, 19 decliners and 1 flat 

Wednesday closed positive with 17 advancers, 15 decliners and 3 flats 

Tuesday closed positive with 22 advancers, 11 decliners and 2 flats 

Monday (11/9) closed positive with 21 advancers, 12 decliners and 2 flats 

Friday closed negative with 6 advancers, 28 decliners and 1 flat 

Thursday closed positive with 20 advancers, 11 decliners and 4 flats 

Wednesday closed positive with 28 advancers, 4 decliners and 3 flats 

Tuesday closed positive with 30 advancers, 4 decliners and 1 flat 

Monday (11/2) closed positive with 17 advancers, 15 decliners and 3 flats 

 

The Bottom Line: Volatility will reign …

  • The BIGGEST issue is the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, diminishing the country’s near-term economic outlook and a hint of returning to individual normalcy.

… Until the first inoculation of the populace.  

 

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.