Is Biotech Next?
I certainly hope not, but the chart certainly gives
reason to be concerned about this group.
Throughout the year, biotechs have been one of the few bright spots and have
been at the top of the charts relative strength-wise. Many of these stocks
either climbed to new highs or got within striking range. But in only the past few
days has the situation turned. Biotech leaders that had favorable-looking trends
and patterns are making sizeable pullbacks. Look at the charts of IDEC
Pharmaceuticals
(
IDPH |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating), Celgene
(
CELG |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating), Abgenix
(
ABGX |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) and Myriad
(
MYGN |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating). These stocks are all pulling back to the lows of their two- to
four-month ranges or 200-day moving averages. They have not yet broken these levels,
but if they do, it may usher in a new phase of sideways or, possibly,
negative bias in the group.
Bulls obviously want to see the support successfully tested and generate a
significant bounce. We’ll see in the next few days.
In the meantime, you can get a general idea of the state of the biotech group
by following the chart of the Biotechnology Index
(
BTK.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating).
The BTK broke below both its 200-day moving average and its
October lows on Friday. You can see that twice before, in April and then in May,
the 200-day moving average had been a rally zone. But we’re not seeing any such resilience
here. At least so far.
Watch these stocks. Watch this index. The action will tell you
whether more industry groups are getting into the bearish mode and ushering in a
new more accelerated decline phase.
Have a great weekend,