Can Biotech Stocks Stay “Trendy”?
A key gauge of biotechnology stocks is testing major trendline support presently – can it hold yet again?
When this market cycle finally comes to an end, among the sectors that will be remembered as one of its key drivers is biotechnology. With a gaudy 750% gain since its 2009 lows, the Biotech run had been so hot, it attracted “bubble” talk in its descriptions, including by us back on March 23, 2015 (backslap: the run actually topped the very day before that post, save for a brief, failed higher high that July). Since then, the sector has fallen on tougher times, leading to calls that a top is indeed in. We don’t know if that’s the case or not. However, with distinct lower highs now on the chart, the sector is one breakdown away from making a more compelling “top is in” case. It very well may get that opportunity in short order.
The most popular index in the sector is the NYSE ARCA Biotechnology Index, ticker, BTK. Since 2008, the BTK has been riding an Up trendline on its log scale chart. This trendline begins at the BTK’s shock low in November 2008, and connects the lows in March 2009, November & December 2011 and February & June of this year. After the selloff in the sector over the past few weeks, the BTK finds itself once again testing this major post-2008 Up trendlin around the 3000 level. To boot, the index is also presently testing the top side of its post-2015 Down trendline (also on a log scale) that it broke above this past July.
This convergence of trendlines should provide for staunch support in the BTK and biotech stocks – at least in the short-term. Our concern in this case, as we have mentioned often, is that the increased frequency (i.e., decreased time lapse) of trendline touches is often a harbinger of a forthcoming trendline break. If that is the case here, after whatever short-term bounce may materialize, we can likely expect to see the trendline eventually give way.
Should that occur, significant further downside may be in store for this formerly frothy leader. Potential linear chart trendline support lies near 2900. Below that, the index could be in store for a re-test of the February lows just south of 2600. Longer-term, it could get much uglier than that given typical post-bubble price behavior.
Lest one thinks a major breakdown is unlikely to occur in this sector, consider the fact that biotech’s sister sector, pharmaceuticals, recently broke an identical 8-year Up trendline. Furthermore, other major indices are breaking shorter-term trendlines left and right this week.
Thus, while biotech has been a star sector for the better part of a decade, one might not want to be married to the sector given that its uptrend is hanging in the balance here. Because if these trendlines are in fact snapped, we assure you that it won’t be so fashionable to own biotech stocks anymore.
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The commentary included in this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a recommendation to invest in any specific investment product or service. Proper due diligence should be performed before investing in any investment vehicle. There is a risk of loss involved in all investments.
