Australian biotech market watch 13/08/09
Thursday, 13 August, 2009
The embattled finance sector led a rally in the Australian stockmarket today, with the All Ordinaries up nearly 2% to 4,429 around 4pm this afternoon. S&P Health index is also up 1.7%.
The big movers include Ansell, up 10c to $9.51, despite one analyst posting so-so long term prospects for the company. Cochlear (ASX:COH) is also up 1.15%, or 68c, to $59.88 on the back of strong profit results released earlier in the week. Healthscope (ASX:HSP) also gained 16c to $4.52.
Greencross (ASX:GXL) saw heavy trading from Wednesday through to today, lifting from its Tuesday close of $0.62 to $0.75, a 21% jump.
iSOFT Group (ASX:ISF) aims to capitalise on the burgeoning US spending on digitising health records with its acquisition of US software developer BridgeForward, and has subsequently seen its share price rise from $0.75 on Monday to $0.83 today, a tidy 11% lift.
Sonic Health Care's (ASX:SHL) acquisition of two US pathology labs also saw increased interest in its stock, with it rising over 3% in today's trading to $12.64.
And let's not forget BioPharmica (ASX:BPH), which rocketed up from $0.026 at close last Friday to $0.31 this afternoon - a heady 1,200% rise - on the back of news it received a US patent for its tumour suppressing factor.
Biota Holdings's (ASX:BTA) news that it will return $20 million in cash - or 11c per share - to its shareholders was welcomed with a 2% lift to $2.08.
CSL (ASX:CSL) has also had a strong month, making steady gains and topping $32.25 today, up 29c.
The only significant moves in to the red include Progen Pharmaceuticals (ASX:PGL), down 1c or 1.4% to 69c, and pSivida Corp (ASX:PVA), which shed many of the gains it's made over the past several weeks, dropping from a high of $3.49 on Tuesday to $3.10.
Novel antibiotic activates 'suicide' mechanism in superbug
Researchers have discovered a new class of antibiotic that selectively targets Neisseria...
Modifications in the placenta linked to psychiatric disorders
Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression disorder are the neuropsychiatric disorders...
ADHD may be linked with an increased risk of dementia
An adult brain affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents modifications...