The markets refused to die and despite the morning sell-off and mid-day break of initial support, the indices failed to follow-through to the downside, holding secondary support. Then they launched a strong snapback surge that lasted the entire afternoon and closed the indices at the afternoon highs going away, and the high for the day on the Nasdaq 100.

Net on the day the Dow was up 67.79 at 8915.94, more than 100 points off the low. The S&P 500 was up 3.45 at 954.58, 12 points off the low, and the Nasdaq 100 was 23 points off the low, up 9.01 at 1553.01.

The technicals moved back into the plus side on New York, with advance-declines positive by about 230 issues, but were 330 issues lower on Nasdaq. Up/down volume was 3 to 2 negative on New York on total volume of over 1.1 billion. Nasdaq traded nearly 2.2 billion and had a 4 to 3 positive volume ratio.

So, a mixed picture at the close technically, but the indices all closed positive, other than the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX), which was down just 0.16 today.

TheTechTrader.com board was mixed but generally higher. Point-plus gainers included recent portfolio position OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals (OGXI), at 22.75, up 2.15. Human Genome (HGSI) gained 1.33 to 13.84, with a high of nearly 15 today.

Several other junior biotechs had a strong day today. BioCryst (BCRX) at 7.58 was up 1.37 on 5.4 million. Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) closed at 4.42, up 47 cents, with a high of 4.77. Incyte Corp. (INCY) was up 57 cents to 4.56, or 14%, on 4.3 million. Targacept (TRGT) added 51 cents to 8.37.In addition, Orexigen (OREX) advanced 32 cents to 7.52. Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) jumped 40 cents to 13.35.

The junior solars also were strong today, with Yingli Green Energy (YGE) up 1.58 to 12.98. Canadian Solar (CSIQ) gained 64 cents to 14.12.Trina Solar (TSL) advanced 2.55 at 28.95, and Suntech (STP) added 1.61 to 17.80.

Other stocks of note, STEC Inc. (STEC) gained 86 cents to 33.78, reaching new highs at 34.10 today.

The ultra ETFs were mostly narrowly mixed, with the Direxion Financial Bull 3x Shares (FAS) down 1.04 and the Direxion Financial Bear 3x Shares (FAZ) up 83 cents.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, the Nasdaq 100 managed to surge late in the afternoon and take out the early morning highs , setting new rally highs near 1553; however, the SPX did not confirm, although it made a new high in the morning above 956 and closed at 954.21.

The resilient market continues to surge higher, with the Nsadaq 100 now up for 10 consecutive sessions.

Harry Boxer is a technical consultant to many Wall Street hedge funds and large institutional traders, and author of TheTechTrader.com.