Short Interest Ticks Up in Large-Cap Biotech, Specifically Amgen (AMGN)

Article Stock Quotes (17) Comments (0)

Analysts at Jefferies commented on short interest in the biotech space. The firm noted that as of as of December 27, 2011, weighted average short interest levels increased +0.5% for large-cap biotech stocks, fell 0.7% for mid-caps, remained relatively flat for smid-caps, and decreased -0.2% for small-cap and micro-caps.

In the large-cap biotech space, the ratio for Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) increased 1.9%. The increase in AMGN skewed the overall ratio. The remaining 4 large caps showed slight decreases in the ratio.

In mid-cap, United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR) and Onyx Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ONXX) had the most significant decreases at t -3.5% and -1.2%, respectively. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: REGN) and Cubist Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CBST) had the biggest increases at +0.3% and +0.1%, respectively.

In smid-caps, the most significant decreases in the ratio include NPS Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: NSPS) and Acorda Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ACOR) at -1.7% and -1.3, respectively. The most notable increases were in Dendreon (Nasdaq: DNDN) and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SPPI) I at +2.0% and +1.6%, respectively.

In Small-caps, the most significant decreases in the ratio include Enzon Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ENZN) and AMAG Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AMAG) at -1.5% and -1.2%, respectively. The most notable increases were in Oncothyreon (Nasdaq: ONTY) and Synageva BioPharma (Nasdaq: GEVA) at +2.5% and +1.3%, respectively.

In Micro Caps, companies with the most significant decreases in the ratio include Metabolix (Nasdaq: MBLX) and GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) at -2.4% and -0.7%, respectively. y. Companies with notable increases in the ratio include Affymax (Nasdaq: AFFY) and Targacept (Nasdaq: TRGT) at +2.3% and +0.9%, respectively.

---

Join StreetInsider.com FREE and get immediately alerted when news breaks on your stocks and other market items - JOIN NOW

---

*NEW - Download StreetInsider's FREE iPhone and iPad App - Click Here

---

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• UPDATE: Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) Opens Higher; Lazard Raises PT to $17
• Yahoo! (YHOO) Board Said to Approve $1.1B Tumblr Deal
• Goldman Sachs Upgrades Abbott Labs (ABT) to Buy

Create E-mail Alert Related Categories

Analyst Comments, Trader Talk

Related Entities

Jefferies & Co

Add Your Comment

Name

Subject

Body

Share on Facebook

Verification
can't see the text?
click here to refresh the image.
what's this?