The stock market indices turned lower from the get-go with a downside gap. But they immediately stabilized and rebounded and moved steadily higher in a neat, orderly channel until early afternoon when they accelerated to the upside, broke out above the weekly highs and set new 2010 highs. Over the last hour they pulled back and tested support and bounced, but still closed mixed on the day.

Net on the day, the Dow, which had come within 13 points of the 11,000 level, closed at 10,969.99, down 3.56, closing just in the negative column. The S&P 500 was up 2 at 1189.44, and the Nasdaq 100 was up 4.12 to 1981.95, about 6 points off its high.

Advance-declines were 17 to 13 positive on the New York Stock Exchange and 15 to 11 1/2 positive on Nasdaq.

TheTechTrader.com board was mixed, but the majority was still on the upside. Leading the way was China Information Security Technology, Inc. (CPBY) at 7, up 1.68. Zanett Inc. (ZANE) at 3.27 was up 1.43, a big percentage gain of 75% today. Puda Coal Inc. (PUDA) at 11.31 was up 1.40, and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 4.66 gained 62 cents. Those were some of the highlights today.

Other point-plus gainers today included Dendreon (DNDN), reaching a new all-time high today at 40.47, closing at 39.40, up 1.21, and L & L Energy (LLEN) at 14.29 up 1.55 on 1.3 million shares.

Other fractional gainers of note, American International Group (AIG) gained 85 cents to 35.91, and China Armco Metals (CNAM) 49 cents to 9.03, closing at the high for the day. JAZZ Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) jumped 52 cents to 11.93, Mindspeed Technologies (MSPD) 42 cents to 8.23, Pozen, Inc. (POZN) 37 cents to 10.98, Somaxon Pharmaceuticals (SOMX) 35 cents to 8.46, and TiVo Inc. (TIVO) 68 cents to 17.54.

There were several fractional gainers of note in the junior oil sector today. These included Brigham Explorations (BEXP), up 37 cents to 18.33, reaching and a new all-time high today at 18.48. Callon Petroleum Co. (CPE) wasup 71 cents to 6.75, a very strong move there. Finisar (FNSR) gained 53 cents to 16.68, Houston American Energy Corp. (HUSA) 78 cents to 20.35, and McMoRan (MMR) 79 cents to 16.75 on nearly 4 million today.

On the downside, Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) gave back 81 cents to 22.66, and RINO International (RINO) lost 39 cents to 20.57. Other stocks that were down were by just very small fractions.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, the indices made new 2010 highs today after an opening gap to the downside refused to go any lower and stabilized early on. A rally ensued which reached the new session highs with about an hour to go, and then they backed them off in the last hour. Still, it was a generally positive session with advance-declines and up/down volume in the positive today.

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