Wednesday saw a second straight day of all-time record closes for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) , as 2013's remarkable bull run continues. Today's gains brought the Dow's year-to-date returns to 16.3% -- not bad considering we're not even halfway through the year. The Dow ended up 48 points, or 0.3%, to end at 15,105.
With more than two-thirds of the index's components ending in the black, shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH ) led all advancers, gaining 3.3%. The nation's largest for-profit health insurer rallied after the Obama administration released an unprecedented breakdown of costs for certain procedures at different hospitals across the country. The data, which compare rates at more than 3,000 hospitals, show wide-ranging differences in what hospitals charge for the same procedures. UnitedHealth shareholders seem to think this tactic will be effective in bringing down medical costs -- and the company's payouts.
With all 30 blue-chip components trading higher this year, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) shares have posted the largest percentage gains. Stubbornly continuing their rise, shares ticked up 2.8% today. HP has shown some signs of a turnaround, but the $8.8 billion writedown it took last year on the acquisition of information management company Autonomy and a record decrease in worldwide PC sales to begin 2013 suggest that there are still some concerns.
Top Growth Stocks To Buy For 2015: Brainstorm Cell Therapuetics Inc (BCLI)
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (Brainstorm), incorporated on November 15, 2006, is a biotechnology company developing adult stem cell therapies for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson�� disease (PD). These diseases have limited treatment options and as such represent unmet medical needs. The Company�� NurOwn technology is based on a differentiation protocol, which induces differentiation of the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into neuron-supporting cells, MSC-NTF cells, capable of releasing several neurotrophic factors, including Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which are critical for the growth, survival and differentiation of developing neurons.
The Company�� approach to treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with autologous adult stem cells includes a multi-step process beginning with harvesting of undifferentiated stem cells from the patient's own bone marrow, and concluding with transplantation of differentiated, neurotrophic factor-secreting mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-NTF) into the same patient-intrathecally and/or intramuscularly. Intrathecal (injection into the cerebrospinal fluid) transplantation consists of injection with a standard lumbar puncture; there is no need for a laminectomy -an invasive, orthopedic spine operation to remove a portion of the vertebral bone, as required by other technologies. Intramuscular (injection directly into muscle) transplantation is performed via a standard injection procedure as well. Its production process for induction of differentiation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells into differentiated cells that produce NTF (MSC-NTF) for clinical use is conducted in full compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap ALS and stem cell stock�Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BCLI) surged 22.68%�ahead if its Monday ice bucket challenge when they will release the final results from�a phase 2a clinical trial���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of stem cell stocks or ALS stocks like Cytokinetics, Inc (NASDAQ: CYTK), Neuralstem, Inc (NYSEMKT: CUR) and NeoStem Inc (NASDAQ: NBS). However, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics does have a history of being the subject of paid promotions and/or investor relations activities when it was trading on the OTC.
Best Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Atrion Corp (ATRI)
Atrion Corporation (Atrion), and its subsidiaries, develop and manufacture products, primarily for medical applications. The Company�� medical products range from fluid delivery devices to ophthalmic and cardiovascular products. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company�� fluid delivery products accounted for 38% of the Company�� revenues. These products include valves that promote infection control and needle safety. The Company has developed a variety of luer syringe check valves and one-way valves designed to fill, hold and release controlled amounts of fluids or gasses on demand for use in various intubation, catheter and other applications. The Company also makes tubing clamps in a variety of materials and colors that are compatible with various grades of tubing and sterilization processes, and produce specialized intravenous sets for use in numerous applications, including anesthesia and oncology.
The Company�� cardiovascular products accounted for 29% of its revenues during 2011. The Company's principal cardiovascular product is the Myocardial Protection System (MPS2), a technology that delivers essential fluids and medications to the heart during open-heart surgery. The MPS2 integrates key functions relating to the delivery of solutions to the heart, such as varying the rate and ratio of oxygenated blood, crystalloid, potassium and other additives, and controlling temperature, pressure and other variables to allow simpler, more flexible management of this process, indicating improved patient outcomes. The MPS2 is the device used in open-heart surgery that allows for the mixing of drugs into the bloodstream without diluting the blood. The MPS2 employs advanced pump, temperature control and microprocessor technologies and includes a line of disposable products. It also develops and manufactures other cardiovascular products that include cardiac surgery vacuum relief valves; Retract-O-Tape silicone vessel loops for retracting and occluding vessels in minimally inva! sive surgical procedures; inflation devices for balloon catheter dilation, stent deployment and fluid dispensing, and Clean-Cut rotating aortic punch and PerfectCut Aortotomy System, both of which are used in heart bypass surgery to make a precision opening in the heart for attachment of the bypass vessels.
The Company�� ophthalmic products accounted for 17% of its revenues during 2011. The Company is a manufacturer of contact lens disinfection cases. It also manufactures a line of balloon catheters used in the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children and adults. The Company�� other medical and non-medical products accounted for 16% of its revenues during 2011. These product lines consist of instrumentation and associated disposables used to measure the activated clotting time of blood. In addition, it manufactures and sells a line of products designed for safe needle and scalpel blade containment. It is also the manufacturer of inflation systems and valves used in marine and aviation safety products. The Company manufactures inflation systems and valves for products, such as life vests, life rafts, inflatable boats, survival equipment and other inflatable structures. The Company also produces one-way and two-way pressure relief valves for use on electronics cases, munitions cases, pressure vessels, transportation container cases, escape slides, and many other medical and non-medical applications.
The Company market components to other equipment manufacturers for incorporation in their products and sell finished devices to physicians, hospitals, clinics and other treatment centers. It sells its products through a sales force which consists of direct sales personnel, independent sales representatives and distributors. It offers customer service, training and education, and technical support such as field service, spare parts, maintenance and repair for certain of its products. The Company�� medical products and other components are produced at facilities in ! Florida, ! Alabama and Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
There's no foolproof way to know the future for ATRION (Nasdaq: ATRI ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.
Best Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Ophthotech Corp (OPHT)
Ophthotech Corporation, incorporated on January 05, 2007, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of therapeutics to treat diseases of the eye. The Company�� advanced product candidate is Fovista, which the Company is developing for use in combination with anti-VEGF drugs that represent the current standard of care for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Wet AMD is a serious disease of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, which is responsible for detailed central vision and color perception. It is characterized by abnormal new blood vessel formation and growth, referred to as neovascularization, which results in blood vessel leakage, retinal distortion and scar formation. If untreated, the progressive retinal damage results in rapid, irreversible and severe vision loss. Wet AMD is the cause of blindness in patients over the age of 55 in the United States and the European Union.
The anti-VEGF market for the treatment of wet AMD consists predominantly of two drugs that are approved for marketing and primarily prescribed for the treatment of wet AMD, Lucentis and Eylea, and off-label use of the cancer therapy Avastin. The use of anti-VEGF drugs has significantly improved visual outcomes for patients with wet AMD who have been treated with these drugs as compared to untreated patients.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
The biotech sector has been pretty exciting this year�with small cap biotech stocks Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) having recently produced noteworthy news for investors�while Acceleron Pharma, Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN), Ophthotech (NASDAQ: OPHT) and BIND Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BIND) have just�set term sheets for their upcoming IPOs. Just consider all of the following recent news:
Best Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SPPI)
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, primarily focuses on oncology and hematology. The company engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products. It markets Zevalin, a prescribed form of cancer therapy, radioimmunotherapy; and Fusilev, a novel folate analog formulation and the pharmacologically active isomer of the racemic compound, calcium leucovorin. The company?s drugs in late stage development include Apaziquone, an anti-cancer agent; and Belinostat, a histone deacytelase inhibitor. Its drugs in development also include Ozarelix a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonist, which is in Phase II clinical stage; SPI-1620, a peptide agonist of endothelin B receptors, which is in Phase I clinical stage; and RenaZorb, a lanthanum-based nanoparticle phosphate binding agent, which is in preclinical stage. The company was formerly known as NeoTherapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2002. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Henderson, Nevada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
Another prime case study for this comes from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI ) . Spectrum's stock more than doubled from October 2011 through July 2012. However, shares plunged 55% from those highs because business dynamics changed since then. A shortage of a generic rival to Spectrum's lead drug Fusilev was alleviated, resulting in sales slowing down considerably.�
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 biotechnology player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (SPPI) which develops and commercializes oncology and hematology drug products. This stock has traded off a bit so far in 2014, with shares off by 7.3%.
If you take a glance at the chart for Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, you'll see that this stock has been uptrending over the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $6.75 to its recent high of $8.50 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SPPI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This move has now pushed shares of SPPI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade above some key overhead resistance levels.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SPPI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.25 to $8.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 1.07 million shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then SPPI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9.27 to its 52-week high at $10.32 a share. Any high-volume move above $10.32 will then give SPPI a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from March of 2013 that started at $12.47 a share.
Traders can look to buy SPPI off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its recent double bottom support levels at $7.82 to $7.81 a share or right below its 50-day moving average of $7.69 a share. One can also buy SPPI off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Read More: 5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (SPPI) has risen 4.7% to $9.30 after being granted accelerated approval for its lymphoma drug.
SeaWorld Entertainment (SEAS) has jumped 1.7% to $29.59 after the theme-park operator was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Longbow.
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