3SOF

Quote from: Tirebldr on July 03, 2005, 11:18:34 AM
Got a question that I cannot find answer to (if you have time). Vectorvest says ASTM is overvalued. Just how does an that come into play with this evaluation? Or is that taken into consideration at all?

The biotechs always are difficult to value, especially the stem cell stocks, since they are so politically controversial, yet they have such incredible potential.  GERN (Geron), for example, has tons of patents, which could end up being worth a ton of money.  Their GER163 is a telemerase inhibitor drug, and they've had some success with slowing the growth rate of brain cell cancer in their trials with mice.  What is that worth, if successful?!

There's great potential with these companies, but alot of biotech companies also burn through their cash and fail, too, so I rely on the charts.  If there's a huge run-up in these stocks on "news" and speculative excitement without any base-building in the chart, I leave them alone.  If there's a pattern breakout, like the ones on the ASTM chart above, I go ahead and play them.

To answer your question directly, I don't worry about whether or not they have earnings currently, etc.  Besides, with what shareholders have been through with stocks like Enron, Adelphia, Worldcom, Healthsouth, et al, I'm not sure that I believe what they say anyway. 

   

anyone could commets on above two? the chart looks good but there is little volume to support. are those stocks strong buy?

I just sold my part in astm. I'd rather use the money to buy something else.

I sold mine three trading days ago. just wondering if i should buy back here. chart looks solid today.

bamboo,i picked up some at $2.52..but I am going to sell  tommorow,,,It looks like it needs to retrace a bit at this point so i would wait ,,just my thoughts on this.

thanks for your inputs. we will see.

big news on stem cells today.

ASTM is up afterhours.......... what about tomorrow ?

any thoughts guys?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050920/ap_on_sc/stem_cells&printer=1;_ylt=Au0bhamSSSBF4IDPqzeQ13pxieAA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Study: Stem Cells May Repair Cord Damage By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
44 minutes ago



Injections of human stem cells seem to directly repair some of the damage caused by spinal cord injury, according to research that helped partially paralyzed mice walk again.

The experiment, reported Monday, isn't the first to show that stem cells offer tantalizing hope for spinal cord injury — other scientists have helped mice recover, too.

But the new work went an extra step, suggesting the connections that the stem cells form to help bridge the damaged spinal cord are key to recovery.

Surprisingly, they didn't just form new nerve cells. They also formed cells that create the biological insulation that nerve fibers need to communicate. A number of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, involve loss of that insulation, called myelin.

"The actual cells that we transplanted, the human cells, are the ones that are making myelin," explained lead researcher Aileen Anderson of the University of California, Irvine. "We're extremely excited about these cells."

The research is reported in Monday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Stem cells are building blocks that turn into different types of tissue. Embryonic stem cells in particular have made headlines recently, as scientists attempt to harness them to regenerate damaged organs or other body parts. They're essentially a blank slate, able to turn into any tissue given the right biochemical instructions.

But they're not the only type of stem cell. Anderson and colleagues used fetal neural stem cells, a type that are slightly more developed than embryonic stem cells because they're destined to make cells for the central nervous system.

The researchers injured the spinal cords of mice and nine days later injected some with the human neural stem cells.

Four months later, the treated mice could again step normally with their hind paws. Mice given no treatment or an injection with an unrelated cell showed no improvement.

The question was what sparked that improvement. Injections of stem cells might simply stimulate the body to produce some healing factor, or they might directly repair damage themselves.

So Anderson injected the animals with diphtheria toxin, which kills only human cells, not mouse cells. The improvements in walking disappeared, suggesting it was the cells themselves responsible for recovery.

"It was striking," Anderson said.

Finally, the researchers analyzed the actual mouse spinal cords to see what the human stem cells had turned into. The hope was that they would make neurons, or nerve cells, and some did.

But the bulk of the injected stem cells formed oligodendrocytes, a different type of cell that forms myelin, the insulation coating that is key for nerve fibers to transmit the electrical signals they use to communicate.

The toxin step was key to ensuring the transplanted cells themselves are functioning, and all researchers must provide such evidence because different types of stem cells almost certainly will work by different mechanisms in different tissues, said Dr. Doug Kerr, a Johns Hopkins University neurologist who is performing similar spinal cord research with embryonic stem cells.

Much more research must be done before testing stem cells in people with spinal cord injuries, cautioned Anderson. One question is how soon after an injury cells must be administered to have any effect — no one knows how nine days in a mouse's life correlates to the post-injury period for a person. Also, the mice were bred to avoid immune system destruction of the human cells, and suppressing a person's immune system because of similar transplant rejection risk poses big problems.

"The last thing we want to do is take someone who's living a productive life — if confined, we all understand that — and make them worse," said Anderson, who said the work also shows the need to study all types of stem cells. "The exciting part is the potential is there."

The research was funded by the nonprofit Christopher Reeve Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. StemCells Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., provided the fetal-derived stem cells.

Quote from: rocket8 on September 19, 2005, 09:55:32 PM
ASTM is up afterhours.......... what about tomorrow ?

any thoughts guys?

ASTM broke below a H&S top on September 9, so if it gets a big pop higher at the open on this news, it's got tough resistance beginning at 2.63, and all the way up.  I'd avoid it. 

in my opinion there is something wrong with ASTM.

one of the only stamcell stocks that doesnt gain any momentum or profits from the good news lately.

I couldnt find out why that is but maybe someonelse knows.
I would be very carefull with this stock.

gr N

Quote from: Melf Elf on September 20, 2005, 04:19:53 AM
ASTM broke below a H&S top on September 9, so if it gets a big pop higher at the open on this news, it's got tough resistance beginning at 2.63, and all the way up.  I'd avoid it. 

Daniel,

ASTM got a big pop at the open Tuesday morning on the stem cell news, but it was one of those "gap to crap" openings.  The high was 2.60 near the open.

TA didn't 'tell us" that would happen.  The chart simply was a guide to help us.

Take a look at the chart below, and picture each candlestick in the four-month H&S top as a defensive player.  They all are occupying the territory above 2.60, and on the stem cell news on Tuesday, those defenders were kicking off the ball to the September 20 candlestick.  Kicking the ball off to one lone candlestick.

The September 20 candlestick received the ball at 2.57 (the opening price), and it moved the ball forward to 2.60.  Pretending that it's Tuesday morning, and looking at the chart below, do you think that the September 20 candlestick will be able to make much more forward progress into the territory where four months worth of candlesticks (defenders...resistance) are standing, above 2.63, or do you think that the September 20 candlestick is likely to get whacked at that "gap to crap" opening near 2.60?

Niow, don't tell me anymore that you don't understand TA, okay?   

Hi Melf and guys,

I dont own ASTM.  Just was watching it.

I look for stocks with good fundamentals and I am now trying to confirm the time to buy with help from TA.

My problem with ASTM is fundamentals.  They are a development stage company (no revenues), lose over $12m a year, and their valuation is at times above $250m.

-rocket8
 

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ASTM has been subject to recent news and the mid term chart looks to be showing signs of a bottom. With todays action ASTM tests double resistance of $2.25 - Both downsloping and horizontal resistance levels.

One concern shown on the chart below is the lack of volume to support a trend change... On the other hand the MACD indicates a new trend may be forming as a "higher low" has been formed. (Divergence)

Should ASTM successfully break the 2.25 level on high volume an immediate 2.70 price target is in play.

This one has about 5 or 6 different threads.
I picked the one with the most info to update.
It's a pick in the stock picking contest,and in the top 10, one of just a few that has a net % green.
May be getting ready to make a run in the contest. Watch out Fousc.....
Checked on the contest board,and it was picked by thai626  and is currently in 5th place as listed below.
#5 thai626 ASTM 2.20 9.52% 2.3 4.55%

Quote from: setravis on December 20, 2005, 01:23:53 PM

It's a pick in the stock picking contest,and in the top 10, one of just a few that has a net % green.
May be getting ready to make a run in the contest. Watch out Fousc.....
Checked on the contest board,and it was picked by thai626  and is currently in 5th place as listed below.
#5 thai626 ASTM 2.20 9.52% 2.3 4.55%

Hi Setravis,

ASTM has finally broken out of it's downtrend.  This time there was relatively big volume associated with the breakout.  I believe the move up was because George W. signed the cord blood bill that had been hanging for a while now.  What I like most about this stock is that it is uses non-contreversial stem cells for regenerative medicine unlike other stem cell companys.  Once people understands the difference between adult stem cells versus embryonic, I think this stock will have its day in the sun.

Ok.....now for the technicals of the stock.  The stock has been in a major accumulation phase for the past 3 1/2 months or so.  I've been watching this stock for the longest time and just by looking at the way this stock has been trading during the day, I've been thinking that the hedgies are heavily manipulating the price of this stock.

To think that this rise is not even on company relevant news...........I can only imagine what will happen when ASTM releases clincial trial results.  NOTE:  Jaw bone reconstruction results are due by the end of December!! (according to CEO Douglas Armstrong).  I believe patient accruals for future clinical trials are also supposed to complete by years end. 

Anyways, good luck to everyone who's invested in ASTM.  FOUSC............I'm coming for you!!   By the way, does FOUSC stand for "fan of USC"?  Haha......... I doubt it but it's funny since you go to OSU.

Great find setravis and thai626 !

ASTM is THE stock of the day...Buy....;