An approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) usually puts a charge into the stock price of the beneficiary(s) of the thumbs up. On the other hand, the plug can be pulled and the stock price drained on a "No" from the FDA.
Any investors that's been on either side of the FDA equation understands and knows the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." That's why it is important for shareholders and trades to be aware of these crucial, impactful events.
Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CBST) is slated to hear from the government agency before the end of June.
Cubist is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for medical needs in the acute care environment in the United States.
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The FDA has accepted the Company's New Drug Application (NDA) for its investigational antibiotic tedizolid phosphate (TR-701) with Priority Review. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of June 20, 2014. Cubist is seeking FDA approval of tedizolid for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).
Tedizolid phosphate is an oxazolidinone being developed for both intravenous (I.V.) and oral administration for the treatment of serious Gram-positive infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The NDA submission is based on positive data from two global Phase 3 clinical studies of tedizolid in ABSSSI, which met the primary and secondary endpoints defined by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
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Gram-positive bacteria include staphylococci ("staph"), streptococci ("strep"), pneumococci, and the bacterium responsible for diphtheria (Cornynebacterium diphtheriae) and anthrax (Bacillus anthracis).
Just from hospital alone, "Each year there are '-37.7 million admissions to acute-care hospitals in the United States; among these, =2.1 million patients (5.7%) develop nosocomial infections," according to paper titles, "Hospital-acquired infections: Diseases with increasingly limited therapies."
That's a fairly big audience for tedizolid.
The stock is positioned to pop if the street likes what it hears on June 20, 2014. As you'll see on the chart below, CBST's stock chart could be drawing a bullish, right angle triangle pattern. That when the top (resistance) is flat and the bottom is an ascending line from left to right.
If/when the stock price pierces the flat top; it usually makes a move equal to the short-side of the right angle – about $10 in this case. If things don't go right, the biotech should catch support at one of three places.
The 50-day average of $67.36 and rising or $65 or $62.50.
Overall: Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CBST) could offer some considerable upside on a FDA approval with less downside if the support levels outlined above act as safety nets. It's the sort of relationship that favors the bullish side of the trade.
McIek/Shutterstock If you ask most people where the greatest threat to Wall Street's nearly 100-year dominance as the world's leading financial center would come from, places like London, Zurich, Tokyo or even Beijing might be suggested. But more and more, it looks as if the threat to Manhattan's financial crown will come from right here in the USA. Silicon Valley appears to have Wall Street in its sights, aggressively funding a new generation of tech startups whose goal is to disrupt the financial services industry and attack Wall Street with a strategy and an attitude they have never faced before. These new fin-tech companies are younger, more flexible and -- with deep-pocketed venture capital firms backing them -- less concerned about reaching financial profitability in the near term. Unlike most venerable Wall Street companies, they are private entities that don't have to please the stock market with share prices or quarterly earnings nor support an infrastructure top-heavy with partners, associates, directors and VPs that would make Gordon Gekko cringe. Crowdsourced Earnings Estimates Estimize is an example of this new type of company that is putting Wall Street on notice. Founded in 2011 by former quantitative hedge fund analyst Leigh Drogen, Estimize crowdsources company earnings estimates on an open and transparent platform -- the opposite of the opaque proprietary model big Wall Street firms use -- and then makes those numbers available to the public for free. According to multiple peer-reviewed research papers, the Estimize approach provides more representative data for earnings, which come from more than 4,000 analysts who contribute to their web-based platform. The company says this translates to earnings estimates that have proven 69 percent more accurate than traditional Wall Street analysts. Drogen says the last figure "shows that our philosophies are winning against the stale old philosophies regarding sharing of data within the financial community." "I want Estimize to lead the change in how the financial community shares information and points the spotlight on certain individuals based on a meritocracy." Major players in the financial research industry already recognize that change, including Bloomberg, which offers Estimize earnings estimates through its platform. Zero Commission Stock Trades In the brokerage space, Robinhood, which is backed by Marc Andreessen and Google Ventures, is bringing the stock market version of the Holy Grail to investors -- zero commission stock trades. With its mobile-only platform, Robinhood allows customers to trade any amount of shares, as often as they like, for no fee. According to co-founder Vladimir Tenev, Robinhood's model doesn't depend on commissions for profitability, which should cause traditional brokers to quake in their boots. Instead Robinhood charges other companies to build upon its platform. This means that a consumer could use a third-party mobile app like Twitter, StockTwits or Yahoo Finance and trade stocks seamlessly via Robinhood for free. What should particularly worry Wall Street is that companies like Estimize and Robinhood don't think in traditional terms on a number of issues. For example, the first 11 hires at Robinhood were not financial advisers or brokers, but programmers, because it views itself not as a financial company, but a tech company. This philosophy also informs the way they market their product -- forgoing a brick and mortar presence or Superbowl adds -- to reach their target audience. With just a website, a social media campaign and the buzz from tech media, Robinhood has had more than a quarter of a million people sign up for brokerage accounts. Follow the Job Market A key reason that tech firms are competing in the financial sector is that the 2008 crisis cut jobs on Wall Street, causing many new highly skilled college graduates to look elsewhere for employment. One example of this comes from a recent survey by Harvard's newspaper. The Crimson found that only 31 percent of graduates were planning to pursue jobs in the financial sector, down from 2007, when the number was 47 percent. The macro trend also bodes well for tech, as Moody's Analytics predicts that 450,000 new workers will be hired in the high-tech industry by 2015, compared to only 230,000 for finance. It would be premature to count Wall Street out quite yet. Financial companies have faced wars, recessions, populist politicians, regulatory reforms and Occupy Wall Street, and have come out more profitable than ever. But the emphasis on product before profit, and the speed in which they can build and adapt their products to consumer needs, may give fin-tech companies the edge they need to dethrone the wolves of Wall Street.
The expert featured in this column, Rob DeFrancesco, may or may not own positions in any investment vehicle mentioned here. The views and opinions expressed are his or her own.
Strawberry took home four World Series titles over his 17-year Major League Baseball career. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) You can own a piece of baseball history, but it's nothing that can be put on a shelf. 
Whether you're battling the crowds on Black Friday or squeezing your shopping in a few days before the holidays, you have to get your mind, body and most importantly -- wallet -- ready for the challenge. Before the big day you need to create a strategy. Don't just map out the stores you want to hit, but have a list of the gifts you need to buy and an itemized budget of how much you can afford to spend for each person. After you create your gift list remember to follow these 4 money-saving tips: Check coupon and promo code sites like Retail Me Not before you buy. Get your smartphone ready with price comparison apps like RedLaser to scan a barcode and discover if you can get a better deal anywhere else. Sign up for email alerts from your favorite stores Use social media to get the scoop on recently released specials If pushing through a crowd in search of the perfect gift sounds like fun, then be sure to arm your body properly. Don't bother with heels; embrace sneakers, jeans, and a comfortable top. You don't need to impress the masses in the store; you want to dazzle your family and friends with your gift-giving skills. And don't forget to bring a snack with you for when you start to get a little cranky later in the day. For the sake of perspective, start by purchasing your less expensive gifts first. If you drop $200 on the perfect tech toy right away, a bunch of $10 items are going to seem incredibly cheap by comparison. Most of us end up spending more than usual this time of year. Responsible credit card holders can use the opportunity to get more cash back or rewards. If one card offers a rotating 5 percent cash back for online shopping this quarter, then use it for all online spend, while another may provide 2 percent back in department stores. Use sites like MagnifyMoney.com to see which cash back card provides the best value for your spending habits. Just remember -- if you can't pay your balance off on time and in full, it isn't worth the rewards. Once you start paying interest to the banks, your cash back loses its value. Those who worry about overspending at the holidays should consider leaving their credit cards at home in favor of debit cards or just cash. Shopping without a strategy will lead to frustration, returning unwanted purchases and certainly increased spending. Don't forget to include the people in your life you need to tip or buy small presents for like the doorman, children's teachers, a babysitter or mailman. Reduce your stress and impact on your wallet this holiday season by setting a budget, writing out a gift list, finding the cheapest deals, and actually put away the money you saved into a rainy day fund. Oh, and don't forget to tell Santa what you want this year, too! More from Erin Lowry
Getty Images We hear all the time that you should not loan money to friends, but yet friends and family are the most important parts of life. So what do you do, when a family member or close friend has nowhere else to turn for their financial needs? If you feel like you can't (or don't want to) say no, there are some steps you can take to make sure the loan doesn't turn into lingering hard feelings. At the very basic level, it's important to get everyone (spouses, significant others, etc.) on board before you make a deal, consider the impact of this decision and try to look beyond the loan. 1. Lend Only What You Can Afford to Lose
http://www.jhbuffalomeat.com For many American manufacturers, Internet sales can make or break a business. And with Cyber Monday gaining in popularity, many companies are turning attention to one-day Internet deals, promoted to potential consumers and current fans through email updates and Facebook (FB) posts. How Cyber Monday Began In 2005, shop.org debuted the term "Cyber Monday" in a news release hoping to persuade the public to shop online. E-commerce retailers had been looking for a way to highlight the spike in online spending seen the Monday after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday allowed consumers to shop from their desk or home, with equal or better discounts to the stampedes, fights and long lines on Black Friday -- which was creeping into Thanksgiving. In 2013, comScore (SCOR) reported that Cyber Monday sales topped $1.735 billion -- an 18 percent increase from 2012. Joining the Monday Campaign For smaller manufacturers trying to make a name for themselves stateside -- often only selling online -- Cyber Monday can be a blessing. Consumers looking for an extra-special gift can find unique items not available in stores. The Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Co. in Jackson, Wyoming, does 60 percent of its business online and will embrace Cyber Monday for the first time this year. Owner Dan Marino purchased the company, which was founded in 1947, in 1997, when the Internet started to take off. He saw an opportunity to expand by offering the highest quality all-natural raised-in-the-USA products to those outside of Wyoming. "We do custom gift packs and corporate gifts, and we ship all over the USA," he said. "I saw a great opportunity to really make the Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Co. into a national supplier of game-type healthy meats, and make this company a household name brand." The Great Alaskan Bowl Co. in Fairbanks, Alaska, has used the Internet to sell it one-piecebowls, from sustainably harvested birch, to the rest of the United States -- and as far as India and South Africa. "We have done Cyber Monday and continue to do so," said Malen Bratcher, marketing and wholesale director. "It does increase our sales and hopefully will continue to move us in the right direction." Jacob Bromwell kitchen and household accessories has been around since 1819, and 50 percent sales are now online. "We've had an online store since 1999, and up until 2010 it was only a small part of our business," said Sean Bandawat, president. "In recent years, we've implemented many online marketing initiatives that have driven our online through the roof. That distribution channel has become extremely important to the overall financial health of the company." On Cyber Monday, it will offer 30 percent off all items.
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Royals catcher Salvador Perez celebrates with fans after the team won the pennant. Kansas City fans will pay more than $1,000 on average to watch the team in the World Series. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Kansas City Royals fans, eager to watch their team play in the World Series for the first time in 29 years, are paying top dollar for the first two games of the Series.