Biotech Stocks Are Apparently Immune To Risks Of The Day: New Highs Again
On a day when earnings, Greece, the Fed, housing, the strong dollar and a 3.4% durable goods decline spook the market, biotech stocks roll on to new highs. The overall market is down over 1%, but well off the lows.
Our top ETF pick, First Trust Arca Biotech (FBT), has hit new highs up 0.84% to $112.32. All other ETFs appear to be in step with the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) leading up 1.1% to an all time high of $206.73. Healthcare is the leading sector today up 0.2%.
Immuno-oncology stocks are running again led by Ziopharm Oncology (ZIOP) up 15%, presumably on the MD Anderson licensing deal; and Bluebird Bio (BLUE), Juno Therapeutics (JUNO), and Kite Pharma (KITE) up (for Kite, NB: no clinical data is available on CAR-T platforms). Earnings dependent large cap biopharmaceuticals are more subdued, barely eking out a gain, with Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN), Biogen Idec (BIIB), Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) in the RED. Amgen's (AMGN) earnings are tonight. Mid caps were also mixed.