Should You Chase Stem Cell Stocks? (ASTM, CYTX, GERN, NBS, OSIR, STEM, KOOL)

We are seeing massive gap-ups this morning in stem cell stocks. President Obama is signing an executive order which will lift the Bush ban on funding of embryonic stem cell funding. What is interesting here is that this is not really new news other than the timing and the formality. The following prices are as of 8:19 AM EST.

• Aastrom Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTM) +87% at $0.62
• Cytori Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX) +38% at $3.20
• Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN) +29% at $4.99
• Neostem Inc. (AMEX: NBS) NOT TRADED
• Osiris Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIR) NOT TRADED…. in pact with Genzyme, but for adult stem cells.
• StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) +55% at $2.15
• Thermogenesis Corp. (NASDAQ: KOOL) +41% at $0.57

Many of these stem cell stocks will trade more on a “vote of confidence” rather than over what this means as far as “new news” is concerned.

JON C. OGG