24/7 Wall St. » ATHX

24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (AA, CBI, ADSK, CVC, TWC, DG, HITK, CHKR, BTH, PBY, UEC, SFSF, ATHX, TLEO, THC, RECV)

Paul Ausick — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:11:21 +0000

The equity markets opened strong this morning, with the Dow trading in narrow band around 140 points up all morning until about 1:30 in the afternoon. Hopeful economic news from Europe started things going in the morning, and even somewhat weak reports on non-manufacturing supply and factory orders didn’t deter traders. The sharp drop in the afternoon came after S&P warned Germany and other AAA-rated Eurozone countries that may lose their rating as a result of the turmoil in the economic and political climate. That warning also sent the dollar to a slight gain against the euro and the British pound. WTI crude is trading down about -0.2% in the late afternoon at $100.75/barrel, after rising to a gain of more than 1% earlier in the day. Gold is also down about -1.3%, at $1,724.00/ounce, it’s lowest level of the day.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up more than 78points to 12,097.83 (0.65%), the NASDAQ rose nearly 29 points (1.10%) to 2,655.76, and the S&P 500 rose 1.03% or nearly 13 points to 1,257.08.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Alcoa, Inc. (NYSE: AA) cut to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’at Goldman Sachs. Other ratings action include Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (NYSE: CBI) removed from ‘Conviction Buy List’ at Goldman Sachs, but maintained at ‘buy’; Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) cut to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’ at Goldman Sachs; Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) cut to from ‘outperform’ to ‘market perform’ at Wells Fargo; and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) raised to ‘outperform’ from ‘market perform’ at Wells Fargo. We include Cablevision and Time Warner in our story today about tomorrow’s release of new software for the Xbox from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT).

Here are today’s post-earnings news reactions with prices during the last half-hour of trading: Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) is up more than 1.6% at $40.59, after posting a new 52-week high earlier today of $41.25; and Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: HITK) is down more than -9% at $38.75, after posting a new 52-week high this morning of $44.58. Earnings releases have slowed significantly this month, but there are some noteworthy reports coming after markets close today: Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust (NYSE: CHKR), Blyth, Inc. (NYSE: BTH), Pep Boys-Manny, Joe, and Jack (NYSE: PBY), and Uranium Energy Corp. (AMEX: UEC).

Several other standouts from today are as follows…

SuccessFactors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFSF) is up more than 51%, at $39.71. The cloud-based software maker is being acquired by SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) for about $3.4 billion ($40/share). We have more coverage on this story here.

Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX) is up more than 27%, at $2.11. The stem-cell research firm, which uses adult cells not embryonic cells, is apparently back in favor after falling to a 52-week low of $1.00 just over two weeks ago.

Taleo Corp. (NASDAQ: TLEO) is up more than 21%, at $39.99, after posting a new 52-week high of $41.23. Another cloud-based solution supplier, Taleo is one of a number of cloud developer stocks jumping today on the halo effect from SAP’s acquisition of SuccessFactors.

Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE: THC) is up more than 11%, at $4.66. The health care facilities operator fell more than -10% on Friday, when investors over-reacted to some downgrades in the entire sector; today’s gains are just a reaction to last week’s over-reaction.

Recovery Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: RECV) is up more than 22%, at $5.34. This small oil & gas E&P holds 137,000 net acres in the Denver-Julesberg basin in northwestern Colorado, and began trading on the Nasdaq just about one month ago.

Stay tuned for Tuesday. We have noted Federal Reserve Governor Daniel Tarullo scheduled to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on the Dodd-Frank bill. Here are other noteworthy events scheduled for Tuesday (all times Eastern):

7:45 a.m. – International Council of Shopping Centers/Goldman Sachs weekly sales report
8:55 a.m. – International Council of Shopping Centers Redbook

Paul Ausick

Filed under: HI/LOW, Market Close Tagged: AA, ADSK, ATHX, BTH, CBI, CHKR, CVC, DG, HITK, PBY, RECV, SFSF, THC, TLEO, TWC, UEC

Stem Cell Stocks Rise, Led By Athersys Inc. (ATHX, NBS, STEM)

247wallst — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:33:10 +0000

Stem cell stocks (tracked in Tickerspy’s Stem Cell Stock’s Index (*RXSTM) are up over 7% today, led by Athersys Inc (NASDAQ: ATHX). Athersys Inc. rose as high as 395% this morning following news that the company has entered into a deal with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to develop Athersys’s MultiStem, an experimental treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Athersys recieved an intial payment of $6 million in addition to funding for research. Should the program be successful Athersys will recieved as much as $105 million as well as royalties from sales of the drug should it come to mark.

Other stem cell stocks received a big boost from the news. Neostem Inc. (AMEX: NBS), which operates a operates a center for the collection and storage of stem cell, rose as high as 7.6%. StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM), which attempts to treat organ disorders with stem cells, climbed as high as 7.2%

Garrett W. McIntyre

Posted in Biotech, Pharmaceuticals Tagged: ASTM, ATHX, CUR, CYTX, GERN, KOOL, NBS, OPXA, OSIR, PFE, PSTI, STEM, stem cells

Biotech Business Daily (ANIK, ATHX, HALO, IDRA, MRK, OMPI, REGN, DDD, SQNM)

247wallst — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:58:00 +0000

There are lots of names moving in biotech and related fields today, and below are some of the top movers:

Anika Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIK) moving up after reporting solid first quarter earnings this morning. The leader in tissue protection products and healing and repair based on hyaluronic acid (“HA”) technology showed double digit revenues in each product line for total revenue growth of 39%. Shares are up over 12% at $9.68. The 52-week range is $7.85 to $22.49.

Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX) dropping a whopping 23% today on no relevant news. Shares are down $0.70 to $2.30. The 52-week range is $1.55 to $10.00.

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) up over 8% to $5.37. They announced that first quarter earnings will be released May 8 after market close and on May 9 they will provide a pipeline update. The 52-week range is $4.19 to $11.00.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDRA) announced today that under its collaboration agreement with Merck (NYSE: MRK), they achieved a preclinical milestone with a novel Toll-Like Receptor 9 agonists for an adjuvant in cancer vaccines. Idera should receive a milestone payment from Merck. Idera is up 3% to $14.34 off a 52-week range of $6.21 to $14.00. Merck is up over 1% to $38.77 on a 52-week range of $ 36.80 to $61.62.

Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMPI) is up over 7% to $8.62 on now news. The 52-week range for the skincare developer is $6.80 to $25.60.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) up 5% today after first quarter results were released this morning. They showed a loss of $11.6 million, or $0.15 EPS, narrower than the $29.9 million loss in first quarter 2007. Shares are up $1.11 to $20.73. The 52-week range is $13.55 to $28.74.

SCOLR Pharma Inc. (AMEX: DDD) up over 8% today after announcing that it entered into a lease buyout deal to move into a cheaper location, with the proceeds of over $4 million, the company said it will be able to fund 2009 expenses. Shares are trading at $1.26. The 52-week range is $0.13 to $4.07.

Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) up today after reporting financial results after close yesterday. They posted a net loss of $8.6 million compared to a loss of $3.8 million in first quarter last year. Revenues increased by 7%. Shares are trading up over 8% to $6.85 on a 52-week range of $3.16 to $11.63.

Rachel Lopez
May 1, 2008

Pre-Market Stock News (December 20, 2007) (ACN, ATVI, ALTU, ARRY, ATHX, BSC, BX, CAKE, ECHO, INTU, FDX, MLHR, IDEV, LDK, LEG, LOCM, NKE, ORCL, PIR, RIMM, RAD, RUTH, SMOD, SCS, DEEP, TRB)

247wallst — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:02:20 +0000

This is not every bit of news on individual stocks but this is the major news affecting many shares in pre-market activity this Thursday morning:

Accenture (ACN) stock up 4% after posting $0.60 EPS vs. estimate of $0.56.
Activision (ATVI) again guided earnings higher.
Altus Pharmaceuticals (ALTU) traded down almost 20% after it reacquired ALTU-238 development and commercialization rights for North America from Genentech, an end to the development pact.
Array BioPharma (ARRY) traded down almost 20% after it announced initial results from a Phase II study comparing its monotherapy with temozolomide in the first-line treatment of advanced melanoma showed no apparent difference in efficacy for the primary endpoint.
Athersys (ATHX) and Angiotech announce authorization of Phase I stem cell trial for heart attacks.
Bear Stearns (BSC) expected to post first loss.
Blackstone (BX) plans to sell a $9 Billion CMBS offer backed by Hilton Hotels in Q1 2008.
Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) had a 10% stake taken by activist Nelson Peltz.
Electronic Clearing house (ECHO) getting acquired by intuit for $17.00 per share.
FedEx (FDX) $1.54 EPS vs. $1.50 estimates (had been lowered) but next quarter $1.15-1.30 vs. $1.38 est.; $6.40 to $6.70 for year bvs. $6.47 estimate.
Herman Miller (MLHR) $0.72EPS Vs. estimate of $0.59; stock rose about 10%.
Indevus Pharma (IDEV) trading down about 5% on a non-approvable letter from the FDA for VALSTAR NDA supplement (submitted May 2007).
Intuit (INTU) paying $131 Million for ECHO.
LDK Solar (LDK) $0.37 EPS on $157M revenues vs. $0.37/$143.22M est.; Q4 guidance $0.40-$0.41 on $180-$185M revenues vs. $0.41/$167.5M est.; stock indicated down 5%.
Leggett & Platt (LEG) stock down about 5% on lower guidance.
Local.com (LOCM) announced a strategic partnership with IAC/Interactive’s Citysearch; stock trading up 7% on news.
Nike (NKE) traded up 3% after $0.71 EPS on $4.3 Billion revenues vs. estimates $0.66/$4.3B.
Oracle (ORCL) traded up 6% after beating earnings and giving slightly higher guidance; sees enterprise spending lasting into 2008.
Pier 1 (PIR) -$0.11 EPS vs -$0.24 estimate.
Research-in-Motion (RIMM) reports earnings after the close today.
Rite Aid (RAD) indicated down about 5% after posting loss.
Ruths Chris (RUTH) gave an earnings warning.
Smart Modular Tech (SMOD) $0.18 EPS vs. $0.17 estimate.
Steelcase (SCS) $0.30 EPS vs. $0.28 estimate.
Superior Offshore (DEEP) signed a letter of intent with a strategic partner for ownership of a DP-III deepwater construction and dive support vessel expected to be delivered in late 2008.
Tribune (TRB) buyout supposedly set to close today.

Jon C. Ogg
December 20, 2007