Buzz Stocks: Aquinox, Raptor, and Solera Holdings

Today's stocks to watch include Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc (AQXP), Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (RPTP), and Solera Holdings Inc (SLH)

Sep 14, 2015 at 9:50 AM

U.S. stocks are lower this morning, as investors look ahead to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Today's equities in focus are drugmakers Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:AQXP) and Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ:RPTP), along with software and services provider Solera Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SLH).

AQXP is 15.7% higher at $20 this morning, after revealing that Baker Bros. increased its stake in the company. To say Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc enjoyed an interesting August would be a severe understatement. The stock started the month in the low single digits, only to end in the high teens, thanks to upbeat drug data and Baker Bros.' initial stake. Short sellers have stocked up on the pharmaceutical concern, as 38% of AQXP's float is sold short -- meaning today's news could trigger a short squeeze.

Fellow pharmaceutical concern RPTP isn't having such a good morning. Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. is 30% lower at $8.44, after announcing it may end plans to develop its liver drug. Today's drop is a continuation of RPTP's recent downtrend, and the shares are now exploring year-to-date lows. Short-term option players are more call-heavy than usual toward the pharmaceutical firm, as its Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.38 is lower than 92% of the readings taken during the past year. Should this optimism unwind, the stock could be subjected to further downside pressure.

SLH is 9% higher at $54.11 this morning, after announcing that it is going to be acquired by an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners, LLC for $6.5 billion (subscription required). The purchase price of $55.85 cash is a 13% premium over Solera Holdings Inc's Friday close of $49.45. Recent short sellers might be taken aback; short interest on SLH more than doubled during the past two reporting periods.

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