October 13th Biotech Update

We firmly remain in do not fight the Fed mode.  They have been quite clear and consistent that they will be focused on bringing down inflation through rate increases and that the job is not done.  I remain convinced that inflation has peaked and is rolling over in real time.  The problem is that in […]

January 15th Biotech Update

So JPM is done and it was the least eventful one I can remember.  I am still a little surprised that the sector has done this well.  Usually post JPM we see a flood of secondaries and I suspect there will be an uptick in the next couple weeks.  That being said we ended last […]

January 13th Biotech Update

So I think JPM is a complete failure in terms of news.  It is obviously a dud in terms of M&A.  I do not remember the last time we had a JPM with zero mergers. There have been some with minor deals but it has been awhile since there have not been any.  This actually […]

July 13th Biotech Update

It seems as if the news is really starting to dry up as we get closer to earnings seasons (plus the usual summer doldrums is probably also having an effect).  I expected at least some news to start the week but there really is not much which likely means the sector will follow any macro […]

May 19th Biotech Update

What kills bulls runs in the sector?  News can but the floodgate of secondaries opening is also a sure why these end.  Yesterday saw the opening of the secondary window and while the first wave of secondaries does not always kill bull runs, it seems like we are at the beginning of the end.  We […]

March 25th Biotech Update

I am still trying to get setup at home.  I order a new desktop because I cannot stand writing on a laptop (I know I am a grumpy old man already).  In any case, I will try and get more notes out on this laptop even though it drives me a little crazy typing on […]

March 3rd Biotech Update

I sure hope that yesterday was not the best that the bulls could do.  We need that bounce to continue for a couple of days and I suspect that will be the case.  There remains a window of opportunity to rally before we start seeing school and work closures in the US, which I believe […]

January 21 Biotech Update

A long weekend and we start the week like JPM with little to now news. If you stare at the chart closely enough and squint your eyes, we might be setting up a new uptrend with higher lows and higher highs assuming we break above the highs of last week. I would not bet the […]

December 16 Biotech Update

We have a decent news morning but I want to focus on three and can do so with a Western theme: the good, the bad, and the ugly. 1. The good: Clearly this is AMRN. We got an early Christmas present with an expanded label. They did not get the primary prevention but also seemed […]

November 4 Biotech Update

Of course we get some meaningful news when I am unable to write but at least it was good news. And of course the sector does well when I am not here (but at least it did well). Looking at the chart there really seems like a nice little uptrend has developed with clear higher […]

October 1 Biotech Update

We are probably due for a bounce in the sector as it has almost been straight down for a little bit. I think the $84 level on the XBI looks to be some support but that is still a couple points lower. Do we get to those levels before a bounce or has the selling […]

September 24 Biotech Update

News remains slow but the macro remains in the background. There is a chance that China trade tensions ease (only before rising again) and Iran is fading into the memory (but this is not over yet). Unfortunately, the market is rallying a little but the sector seems stuck in the mud. It is a little […]

September 9th Biotech Update

We have some interesting news to start the week and of course it leads to a flat sector with the broader market green.  It seems like the sector is underperforming and again I think that is odd given how well the earnings came through last quarter.  Perhaps we are close enough to the election that […]

June 17 Biotech Update

It is a good start to the week with merger Monday coming back the sector albeit with names we were not expecting. The XBI has been in a nice tight range and while we are still in that range this morning, I would look for a breakout about $84. I am not exactly calling for […]

April 10th Biotech Update

Another slow day with the sector so far unable to do anything other than drift lower. I still see nothing to indicate a broader issue with the sector and this is simply a no news drift than anything else. We would really need to break below $86 on the XBI to change the picture at […]

February 15th Biotech Update

Not surprisingly we are in a post earnings lull. While there are still earnings being posted, the bulk of the major ones have been reported. We are also seeing the expected uptick in secondaries, which is later than usual as a result of the government shutdown. In any case, there is nothing particularly sector moving […]

January 4 Biotech Update

The broader market is finally supportive of the sector and barring a reversal we should start to see a nice run up into JPM next week. At the very least I can see the XBI making it to $74 with a decent chance it break that next week and retests the $80 level. An inability […]

January 3 Biotech Update

Holy crap, BMY is buying CELG. This is one hell of a way to start the XLRN is aNew Year and JPM week. It is unfortunate for the sector that the broader markets are so weak otherwise this would likely have had a bigger positive impact. Hopefully the AAPL related weakness is fleeting and we […]

December 17 Biotech Update

It really is looking like we are entering a bear market and those sharp rallies that we have seen are simply the sharp counter trend rallies one sees in bear markets. I am not completely convinced that a bear market is coming but I think we are close. As long as the economy remains out […]

November 28 Biotech Update

Yesterday as a bad day for the sector as it was red with a positive broader market backdrop. To be fair it was a rather odd day in the sector as the large caps also grossly outperformed the SMID space, which was held down by some large losses. I am not quite willing to see […]