August 16, 2022 7:55am

Will coming higher interest rates depress cell and gene therapy sector stock multiples while I worry about low volume upside percentage moves?

Pre-open indications:  3 Positive Indication, 4 Negative Indications and 1 Puff/Pump/Promote

RMi outlines a daily bell ringing of “indications” about what you need to know; it’s what could happen or materialize after the opening and what might happen during the session.

I DEVOTE a HUGE amount of time to “reckoning” the geography of my coverage group - it’s more than opinion, I deal in the facts and numbers that back them up.

The 8:00 A.M., ET edition


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

 

Dow futures are DOWN -0.01% or (-3 points), S&P futures are DOWN -0.06% (-2 points) and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.09% (-11 points) early in the pre-open – so far,

 

U.S. stock futures were barely down on Tuesday,

European markets inch higher,

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed.

 

Henry’omics:

At the start of regular trading on Monday, markets were down following weak economic reports from China and news that the country’s central bank had unexpectedly cut interest rates. Later in the day, markets rebounded and went positive when stocks rallied.

Indexes rose on Monday as the rally as traders prepared for a big week for retail earnings.

The Dow closed UP +151.58 points (+0.45%); the S&P closed UP +16.99 points (+0.40%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +80.87 points (+0.67%)

Economic Data Docket: This week, investors will also be watching for the minutes from the Fed’s July meeting on Wednesday, which could give further clues as to how the central bank will hike rates to tame inflation going forward.

 

RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: “sector bounds on low volume. My issue: risks associated with inflation and monetary tightening persist.” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12563

 

Ebb and flow –

Q3/22 – August – 7 positive and 4 negative close

July -1 holiday, 10 negative and 10 positive closes

Q2/22 –

June – 1 holiday, 9 positive and 11 negative closes

·         May - 11 positive and 10 negative closes

·         April - 1 holiday, 6 positive and 13 negative closes

Q1/22:

·         March – 13 negative and 10 positive closes

·         February stats: 11 negative, 8 positive closes and 1 holiday

·         January stats: 2 holidays, 1 neutral, 13 negative and 6 positive closes

 

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

Negative Indication:

Agenus (AGEN) closed up +$0.17 to $3.14 with a negative -$0.02 or -0.64% pre-open indication,

Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) closed up +$1.23 to $70.31 after Friday’s +$2.99, Thursday’s +$0.36, Wednesday’s +$4.77 and last Tuesday’s -$2.73 following the previous Monday’s +$0.26 with a negative -$1.06 or -1.51% pre-open indication.

CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) closed up +$1.48 to $80.14 after Friday’s +$1.20, Thursday’s -$1.41, Wednesday’s +$3.74 after last Tuesday’s -$6.26 with a negative -$0.14 or -0.17% pre-open indication,

uniQure NV (QURE) closed up +$0.40 to $20.78 after Friday’s +$0.69, Thursday’s +$0.16 and Wednesday’s +$0.51 with a negative -$0.63 or -3.03% pre-open indication.

 

Positive Indication:

BioLife Solutions (BLFS) closed up +$1.42 to $26.01 after Friday’s +$0.99, Thursday’s -$0.57, Wednesday’s +$3.82 and last Tuesday’s -$0.91 with a positive +$0.49 or +1.88% pre-open indication.

Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed up +$2.24 to $36.06 after Friday’s $1.17, Thursday’s +$0.23, Wednesday’s -$0.42 and last Tuesday’s -$1.30 following the previous Monday’s +$0.72 with a positive +$0.68 or +1.89% pre-open indication.

Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR) closed down -$0.05 to $6.02 with a positive +$0.13 or +2.16% pre-open indication post earnings release

 

Puff/Pump and Promote: Maintaining SELL

Biostage (OTCQB: BSTG) closed flat again on Monday after Friday following Thursday and after Wednesday’s $0.00 and last Tuesday’s -$0.45 to $4.55 after being flat on the previous Monday with 92 shares traded and Friday’s flat <3 mo. Average = 935 shares>

·         Its BOD approved on 7/28 amending and restating their Certificate of Incorporation to affect a reverse split of the issued and outstanding common stock at a ratio of not less than 1-for-1.25 and not greater than 1-for-5. What about all those PPM (private placements) as an offering follows?

·         BSTG seems to have the ONLY avenue to finance to utilize non-U.S. Chinese investors? Are we in favor of Beijing funding and continue to control BSTG in our own country? Another question, makes one wonder, Newbridge Securities?

·         How much lipstick is a lot on this pig with an almost 4-year-old IND and NO clinical trial initiation?

·         New CFO, number #7 for the chute?

·         WATCH and be ready for a BIG reverse of shares to enable offering from multiple private placements as it tries to facilitate an offering with Newbridge Securities?

 

The BOTTOM LINE: I try to keep it simple … and short!

With the sector showed signs of strength, traders are seeing a green light to profit from some upside candidates, but keep positions just strip percentage of holding. There's still plenty of uncertainty for the stock market to navigate, so having a fair amount of cash on hand still makes sense.

As I have written, I devote a lot of time to the direction of the sector to “reckon” the geography of my coverage group.”

Especially, since I now (temporarily) tread slowly with a “walking stick” having over done it in yard work which as I have been told – NO more. I do love yard work.

Whether information or intelligence is good, bad or somewhere in between; 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.

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 securities referred to in this publication.