U.S. stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors await data on jobless claims and consumer prices. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2 points to 12,250, while S&P 500 futures dropped 0.90 point to 1,332. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 1.50 points to 2,391.

European markets were mixed today. STOXX Europe 600 Index has gained 0.07%, while London's FTSE 100 Index moved down 0.09%.

Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 0.26%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.15% and China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.11%.

Continue reading U.S. Futures Down Slightly as Investors Await Jobless Claims

U.S. Futures Down Slightly as Investors Await Jobless Claims originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Mills (GIS) option was active on call volume of 88K contracts, compared to put volume of 8K contracts. October put option implied volatility is at 28, January is at 25, above its 26-week average of 21, according to Track Data. The active call volume suggests traders taking positions for price movement.

Stocks with implied volatility below index mean range: Genzyme (GENZ), Potash (POT) and Chelsea Therapeutic (CHTP), according to IVolatility.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: General Mills Calls Active on Elevated Volatility originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Lab Corp Buys Genzyme Genetics Unit

Lab Corp Buys Genzyme Genetics Unit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Double Dip Fears Easing Somewhat (MW, GENZ, SKX, USO, TBT, EMMS)

Closing Bell: Double Dip Fears Easing Somewhat (MW, GENZ, SKX, USO, TBT, EMMS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Credit Suisse upgraded Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to outperform from neutral following the company's increased FY11 guidance. The firm has an $85 target on the stock.
• FBR Capital upgraded Hyatt Hotels (H) to market perform from underperform following the company's Q2 results. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $38.
• BB&T upgraded to Smithfield Foods (SFD) to buy from hold, citing tighter supplies, strong pork prices and improving export demand. The firm has a $19 target on the stock.
• Holly (HOC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Cogent Communications (CCOI) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Catalyst Health (CHSI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at First Analysis.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADSK, ATK, BCS, GENZ, H, ROCK, SFD, UL, VIA ...

Analyst Calls: ADSK, ATK, BCS, GENZ, H, ROCK, SFD, UL, VIA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Coca-Cola (KO) to overweight from neutral due to valuation and expectations that developed market volume should improve. The firm raised its target price for shares to $66.
• BB&T upgraded Nordson (NDSN) to buy from hold and has an $82 price target on the stock. The firm believes certain drivers of Nordson's Advanced Tech unit are becoming more secular vs. cyclical and that the company's EBIT margins can go higher.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Embraer (ERJ) to outperform from underperform, citing the positive announcements from the Famborough Air Show. The firm raised its price target to $37 from $21.
• Universal Health (UHS) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Mead Johnson (MJN) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Coventry Health (CVH) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Leerink.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALU, CHL, EXC, GENZ, KO, NDSN, NSW, SJM, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: ALU, CHL, EXC, GENZ, KO, NDSN, NSW, SJM, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Genzyme Lifted by Takeover Speculation

Genzyme Lifted by Takeover Speculation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading ADHD Patch Helps Investors Focus on Shire

ADHD Patch Helps Investors Focus on Shire originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Sneaking in a Win (AAPL, BP, GOOG, GLD, MU, GENZ)

Closing Bell: Sneaking in a Win (AAPL, BP, GOOG, GLD, MU, GENZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Bears Breathe Deep Late in Day (ABK, BBY, CAAS, C, LULU, GENZ)

Closing Bell: Bears Breathe Deep Late in Day (ABK, BBY, CAAS, C, LULU, GENZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Proshares UltraShort Barc 20-Year Treasury ETF (TBT) closed at $48.95. TBT April, May and June option implied volatility is at 22, below its 26-week average of 30, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Two stocks with IV rise on March 24: Genzyme (GENZ) +4%, Annaly Mortgage Management (NLY) +6%, according to IVolatility.

ISE Sentiment Index-ISEE closed at 155 on 3/24/10. ISEE 10-day moving average is 131.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Proshares UltraShort Barc 20-Year Treasury ETF Volatility Stays Low on Bond Sell-Off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Can't Win Every Day (ADBE, GENZ, SBUX, COP, GENT, S)

Closing Bell: Can't Win Every Day (ADBE, GENZ, SBUX, COP, GENT, S) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not all of my stock picks work out. I first wrote about Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) on June 19, 2009, at a price of $55.02. In the fall 2009, Genzyme's technicals had deteriorated to the point that the stock chart formed a bear hug: a bearish pattern, and I noted at that time, I thought that the prudent stance in December was to stand aside.

After falling through key, psychological support at $50, Genzyme's shares found support at/near $47, and have since moved back above $50 and the key 50-day moving average. However, the rally has been less than impressive. The MACD Histogram, a measure of buying pressure and selling pressure is less than convincing: according to my analysis, there's not enough buying pressure. Hence, I'd take the roughly $3 gain.

Continue reading Genzyme: Unconvincing Rally

Genzyme: Unconvincing Rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Jobs Giveth and Taketh Away (CYCC, QCOM, GS, LUV, PALM, GENZ)

Closing Bell: Jobs Giveth and Taketh Away (CYCC, QCOM, GS, LUV, PALM, GENZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Genzyne Corp.'s (NASDAQ: GENZ) stock has meandered since the June 19, 2009, Buy recommendation at $55.02, and it appears institutional investors have adopted a wait-and-see stance regarding the company.

Even so, I'm reiterating my Buy rating for GENZ. Here's why:

Continue reading Genzyme: Up ahead, an uptrend

Genzyme: Up ahead, an uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE) to Buy from Hold on valuation as it believes commercial construction concerns are well known. The firm raised its target on shares to $40 from $37, and coupled the upgrade with a downgrade of Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) to Sell from Hold.
• Credit Suisse upgraded BJ Services (NYSE: BJS) to Neutral from Underperform following its acquisition by Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI). The firm raised its target to $17.
• Credit Suisse also upgraded Amkor Technology (NASDAQ: AMKR) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $8 from $7. The firm expects Amkor to benefit from near-term strength in the supply chain and the mix shift towards higher value packaging.
• Textron (NYSE: TXT) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Siemens (NYSE: SI) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
• Stanley Works (NYSE: SWK) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Janney Montgomery.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, BJS, CBE, GENZ, ROK, SI ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, BJS, CBE, GENZ, ROK, SI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has some questions for Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) regarding trial data for its leukemia drug, Clolar. Because Genzyme didn't follow the FDA's recommendations in conducting its main study of Clolar, the regulatory agency is reluctant to make a decision on the basis of the trial results.

In 2007, FDA staff advised Genzyme to conduct a randomized study in which participants receiving Clolar would be compared against a set of patients not receiving the drug. However, the drug company's primary tests did not include a control group; instead, the treatment was tested only on elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Continue reading FDA raises issues with Genzyme's leukemia drug study

FDA raises issues with Genzyme's leukemia drug study originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Genzyme's Cerezyme shortage may cause more problems than anticipated

Genzyme's Cerezyme shortage may cause more problems than anticipated originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Genzyme: A stock base is now in place

Genzyme: A stock base is now in place originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Genzyme (NASDAQ: GENZ - option chain) stock is down today after the company said it has stopped production at a plant in Massachusetts due to viral contamination in one of its bioreactors. The plant, which produces two of GENZ's leading drugs, Cerezyme and Fabrazyme, should reopen at the end of July. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on GENZ.

This morning, GENZ opened at $51.42. So far today the stock has hit a low of $51.30 and a high of $52.95. As of 11:30, GENZ is trading at $52.80, down $2.82 (-5.1%). The chart for GENZ looks bullish and S&P gives GENZ a positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.

Continue reading Genzyme (GENZ) shuts down plant due to contamination

Genzyme (GENZ) shuts down plant due to contamination originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.