Scimitar Equity, LLC is an independent equity research firm focused on providing value-added intelligence and insightful investment conclusions on emerging companies demonstrating real progress toward their vision while meeting quarterly expectation.
“Where’s the beef”, OSIR recaptures gain as sector wavers
The 6 W’s: Who, what, where, when, why and what of it
Mid-Day: The NASDAQ is DOWN -11.66 (-0.41%) to 2,838.46 while the Dow is also DOWN -13.06 (-0.1%) to 12,483.09.
Mid-Day Market Commentary: RegMed stocks struggle for direction showing a very slow recovery – if any. Stocks have basically … moved in a flat line in mid-day trading on Thursday. The major averages have all slipped into negative territory after ending yesterday’s trading debacle. Traders are also digesting some lackluster economic data, including a report from the Commerce Department showing a drop by a key indicator of business spending. The weakness that has emerged reflects lingering concerns about the outlook for the sector reflects continued uncertainty about the financial viability and sustainability of the sector as and if the market can finance future needs?
Reflecting on the short swarm in our sector, FB is now the target from their flubbed debut … as demand to borrow Facebook shares for shorting has increased, with nearly 8% (33M) of the stock out on loan which is 70% of the shares available … welcome to our world!
Another option to consider or not … exchange-traded funds … opens the door to our sector with and without stamina! They’re readily available anywhere, anytime, and they’re cheap. That’s the appeal of ETFs — and the problem. While the price of admission is low, the cost of the products can be high for those who misuse and abuse them. Any investment can be mishandled, of course, but ETFs are especially easy to trade, temptingly so. Understand, ETFs create more “trader-oriented” shareholders … I hate to be a curmudgeon about ETFs … so how do I really feel?
Today’s Gospel: Many RegMed stocks are up. … Mid-day, Thursday … there are NO real leader(s) …<other than OSIR regaining past early week highs> … a few more green (ups) … and even reds (downs) and … 1 black (flats). The CBOE Volatility Index, <fear gauge> traded … slipped to 22 … down from 24, today!
My favorites:
- Aastrom (ASTM) is up and down -$0.02 or -0.94% to -$2.10 after a depreciating week with an increasing and tightening … mid-day range $2.11 -$2.17 from yesterday’s $2.06 – $2.12 with … small, volume of 30K shares;
- Cytori (CYTX) is down … +$0.06 or -2.76% to $2.11 in an increasing and tightening trading range of $2.15 – $2.19 from yesterday’s $2.04 – $2.14 with … minuscule trading of 37k;
- Osiris (OSIR) …. Is up … +$0.53 … as traders recapture their positions … OSIR has appreciated +9.15% to $6.26.
Minimal upward moves: By the hairs … Athersys (ATHX), BioLife Solutions (OTC BB: BLFS), BioMimetic (BMTI), Cryo-Cell (OTC BB: CCEL), Geron (GERN), Neuralstem (Amex: CUR), StemCells (STEM), Neuralstem (Amex: CUR), Opexa (OPXA), ReNeuron (RENE.L), Thermogenesis (KOOL) and even NeoStem (Amex: NBS) +$0.012 or 3.19% to $0.378.
Minimal downward moves: Advanced Cell Technology (OTC BB: ACTC), BioTime (Amex: BTX), Brainstorm (OTC BB: BCLI), Dendreon (DNDN), Pluristem (PSTI), Tengion (TNGN), Cytomedix (OTC BB: CMXI), Fibrocell (OTC BB: FCSC), ImmunoCellular (OTC BB: IMUC),International Stem Cell (OTC BB: ISCO), and Verastem (VSTM).
EconoDrama …Weekly jobless claims edged down a mere 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 370,000, according to the Labor Department. Economists had forecast claims to remain unchanged. The four-week moving average for new claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends, dropped 5,500 to 370,000. And durable goods orders rose less than expected in April, gaining 0.2%. Economists had expected orders to increase 0.5%.
What’s new in the regenerative medicine/stem cell market … see: www.scimitarequity.com/blog …
On my Mind: OSIR’s approval created an … instant optimism … within the industry but, judging by the sector’s reaction, it is obvious that investors do NOT … believe this is a game-changer … for the universe. It keeps the door open for OSIR as a leader in this developing sector. As an industry group, the remaining players are struggling in P2 trials and burdening their burn rates with more and more pre-clinical science projects hoping for them to become fruitful assets and partner-able.
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