September 16, 2021 7:45am

Quadruple witching will occur on Friday as stock and index futures and options are set to expire at the same time

Pre-open indications: BUY: 3; SELL: 1; Maintain SELL: 1

My version of the morning’s “indications” is about what you need to know; it’s what could happen or materialize after the opening and what might happen during the session

Remember that overnight and pre-open actions in futures doesn't necessarily translate into actual trading in the coming day’s session.

Dow futures are DOWN -0.05% (-18 points), S&P futures are DOWN -0.14% (-6 point) and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.22% (-34 point)

 

U.S. stock futures were skipping lower on Thursday

European stocks climbed, as U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffled his Cabinet, replacing a number of senior ministers and urging his government to tackle economic inequality in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Asia-Pacific stocks were lower, with Chinese stocks leading losses regionally as Australia’s unemployment rate came in lower than expected,

 

Data Docket: Futures are on hold until traders get a look at August retail sales due out at 8:30 a.m. ET. Retail sales are expected to decrease by 0.8% month-over-month.

  • jobless claims data; economists expect a total of 320,000 Americans filed for unemployment insurance in the week ended Sept.11, slightly up from 310,000 in the week prior.

 

Henry’omics:

Despite a rebound on Wednesday, the S&P 500 has declined 0.9%, the Dow is down 1.6%, and the Nasdaq has fallen 0.6% this month; each are still in the red for September.

Expect bumpier trading and lower return as Q3 ends and Q4 sputters to year’s end.

History is also not in the market’s favor as September tends to be a typically negative month for stocks. <CNBC>

 

If you didn’t remember what happen at Wednesday night’s close and the quarter’s “number’s” impact, you won’t be prepared for today’s session:

 

Q3/21:

  • September, 1 holiday, 4 positive and 6 negative close
  • August - 12 positive and 10 negative close
  • July: 6 positives, 1 holiday and 15 negative closes

 

Q2/21 Earnings releases … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11542  … to date:

 

Companies in my headlights – It’s your decision; I provide an idea and context:

The Biostage (BSTG) Chronicles - Maintaining Sell – notice how the shares trade with the “pump/promote”?

Biostage (BSTG) closed up +$0.52 with 17,107 shares traded following Tuesday’s -$0.27 to $3.56 with 6,551 shares traded, Monday’s +$0.04 with 26,150 shares traded, Friday’s -$0.19 to $3.79 with 22,124 shares traded, Thursday’s +$0.66 to $3.98 with 6,062 shares traded, Wednesday’s +$0.57 to $3.32 with 7,833 shares traded and last Tuesday’s -$0.75 to $2.75 with 6,705 shares traded

Question#1: Being able to trade a stock doesn't mean it is worth the share price; an equity that has WHAT is BSTG’s value proposition, after all the share price pumping – NO clinical trial after a 1.5-year-old IND?

Questiob#2: WHAT is the end game of “pumping” the share price as the float is MINIMAL compared to the ever-OUTSTANDING shares? 

WHY do I keep analyzing/commenting negatively on Biostage (BSTG): When one sees an inextricable wrong and morally repulsive scenario; it takes courage, resolve and patience to stay the course of asking the questions without response!

 

Pre-open Indications:  who and what’s lookin’ which way …

BUY:

Editas Medicine (EDIT) closed down -$0.49 o $60.30 with a positive +$0.84 or +1.39% aftermarket indication.

Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) closed down -$0.32 to $25.97 with a positive +$0.31 or +1.19% pre-market indication.

 

Sell into Strength:

Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) closed down -$3.53 to $150.44 with a positive +$0.76 or +0.51% aftermarket indication; problem, a 52-week change of +570.31%

 

Maintaining BUY:

Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) closed up +$1.38 to $44.98 after Tuesday’s -$1.71 to $43.60 and has a positive +$0.94 or +2.09% aftermarket indication. <see above news>

 

 

The BOTTOM LINE: Not yielding, I keep reinforcing the theme that increased stock market volatility suppresses the stem, cell and gene therapy sector; yet the more oversold – the greater the capacity to selectively … rebound as an avenue to profiting.

I maintain, the recent stem, cell and gene therapy sector investors should be a bit more defensive, limiting new buys and perhaps curtailing overexposure.

Or it could say buying opportunities are here today and maybe tomorrow but G O N E soon!

Theme is uncertainty, more likely to me: skepticism …

RMi’s daily report is a primer that may say little or a lot; yet it serves as insurance that all indications are being examined and evaluated.

 

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.

Regulation Analyst Certification ("Reg AC"): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

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