Stockwatch: Curve Balls Divert The Santa Rally
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
A few minutes into the first of trading day of December with the stock market in positive territory the phrase Santa rally was echoing like a Christmas carol through trading rooms and investment desks. There is still no reason to believe that December will end on a negative note for life science stocks but there were enough curve balls thrown last week to result in more than one stumble amongst Santa's usually surefooted helpers.
You may also be interested in...
Stock Watch: Is Johnson & Johnson Edging Away From Pharma?
J&J’s Medtech division outshone pharma while recently launched innovative products contributed minimally: it is to be hoped investors’ reactions to the first set of big pharma Q1 results will not set the tempo for earnings season.
Stock Watch: Risk And The Pharmaceutical Discount Rate
In contrast to the SEC’s view that public companies’ regulatory filings give investors all the information needed to make an investment decision, the discount rate used to value a company may not reflect all its risks.
Stock Watch: Pharma Businesses That Leave Consumer Behind
Healthcare conglomerates that divorce consumer, animal health and even generics businesses from their pure-play branded pharmaceutical groups could leave a less diversified and riskier sector in uncertain times. But the advantages are apparent.