Get a Head Start on Biotech's ASCO Confab

Bravo to ASCO for coming up with a more egalitarian policy this year, though it likely means that I won't be able to write fun stories like this or this.

ASCO will post research abstracts to the annual meeting on its Web site on Thursday, May 15, at 9 p.m. EDT. The group assures me that it has beefed up its Web servers to deal with what should be high demand.

This, of course, sets up what should be an interesting and volatile day of biotech sector trading the next day. Adding to the fun is that Friday, May 16, is the options expirations day for the month.

Get some rest now. Come ASCO time, you'll need to be ready.

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Know What You Own: Companies like Genentech and ImClone operate in the biotech sector, and an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks this sector is Biotech HOLDRs (BBH Quote). This ETF was recently trading at $169.04.

The current top five stock holdings in Biotech HOLDRs are Genentech, Amgen (AMGN Quote), Gilead Sciences (GILD Quote), Biogen Idec (BIIB Quote) and Genzyme.

These stocks were recently trading at $78.84, $43.67, $48.16, $56.55 and $73.14 respectively. To stay up to date on the biotech sector, don't miss TheStreet.com's Biotech section.