Bruker BioSciences Corp. (BRKR)

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Bruker Bears Have the High Ground

By Chris Schumacher
RealMoney.com Contributor
6/5/2007 8:34 AM EDT

Shares of Bruker BioSciences (BRKR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating) fell off a cliff in early May, and the bears still have the upper hand. A look at the X-ray maker's technical picture shows a possible short-trade setting up.

The stock displayed strong price appreciation from February to April of this year. However, after Bruker met first-quarter targets, shares succumbed to a Bear Stearns' analyst report that the stock was overvalued.

Since that time, it appears that buyers have become more cautious. A capitulation phase like Bruker experienced in early May usually leads to a strong reversal that pushes the price back up to the point where shares were trading before the selling exhaustion.

In this case, this level equates to about $11.50. Instead, short-covering and reversal traders could only push the price back up to $9.40 before Bruker shares began forming a double bottom. The retest of the $8 support in late May shows that buyers are still willing to purchase weakness, but not strength.

It will take some time for the stock to build a base between $8 and $9.50, if the bulls in this life sciences company are to regain control of the daily chart.

Right now the stock's near-term support level at $8 is in danger of failing, which could lead to a further decline to the former $7 support. In order for the bulls to regain control of the daily chart, they will need to push the price back above $9.40 on a closing basis.

A close above $9.40 would likely cause the bears to cover their positions, and invalidate the developing short setup. But given the lower-volume reversal that occurred in May when the stock bounced off $8 and moved back up to $9, Bruker appears to have a higher probability of at least testing $8 again before climbing above $9.40 on a closing basis.

And if the bears prevail, shares could break even lower.

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