The market had a very strong rally after a weak start, and it stair-stepped up all session, closing at the highs for the day going away.

Net on the day the Dow was up nearly 80, the S&P 500 up about 10 3/4, the Nasdaq 100 more than 21 and the SOX up more than 10 points.

The technicals bore out the trading today, with advance-declines positive by about 22 to 10 on New York and about 19 to 10 on Nasdaq.  Up/down volume was nearly 3 to 1 positive on New York with a total of 1.6 billion traded.  Nasdaq traded about 1.8 billion with a little more than 2 1/2 to 1 positive ratio.

TheTechTrader.com board was very active and mostly higher, with a few outstanding issues.  Old favorite Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) soared to a new all-time high, taking out its 4 1/2-year high, up 3.12 on 2 1/4 million shares to 43.29 today.

Rediff.com India (REDF) exploded for 3 1/4 points, closing at the high for the day going away at 17 on nearly 1.9 million.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) popped 1.40 on 2 1/3 million, and Convera (CNVR) closed near the high for the day at 14.01, up 1.86, on 1.4 million.

So, solid performances from some of our favorites today.

Others of note, Dynamic Materials (BOOM) was up 70 cents, Cutera (CUTR) 70 cents, Depomed (DEPO) up 55 cents, Evergreen Solar (ESLR) popped to a new multi-year high, getting over 9 before closing at 8.88, up 38 cents on more than 3 million.

Global Industries (GLBL) hit a new multi-year high, closing at 14.79, up 57 cents on more than 1.8 million.

Panacos Pharmaceuticals (PANC) was up 64 cents.

In the large cap sector, Intel (INTC) had a strong day, up 53 cents, and as a result the SMH was up 63 cents.

On the downside, Escalon Medical (ESMC) got hammered for 1.55, breaking key support.  Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA) on some profit-taking from this week's big run was down 1.29.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, today was an important session because the indices not only broke the declining tops lines on the Nasdaq 100 but through initial resistance, closing right at secondary resistance around 1590.

The S&P 500 closed a tad above its declining tops line and right in the key 1226-28 resistance zone, so we'll see if we can get any follow-through tomorrow.

But today was a solid session for the indices, and it was corroborated by the underlying technicals.

Good trading!

Harry Boxer is a technical consultant to many Wall Street hedge funds and large institutional traders, and author of TheTechTrader.com, a real-time diary of his day, swing and intermediate-term trades. For more of Harry Boxer, sign up for a FREE 15-day trial to his Real-Time Technical Trading Diary, or sign up for a Free 30-Day Trial to his Top Charts of the Week service.