The stock market indices had a surprisingly solid start to the week despite some back and forth early on. They were able to break out and then run in the morning, consolidate midday, and then come on towards the end to close near the session highs in a very strong session, particularly on Nasdaq, which was led by Apple Inc. (AAPL), up 10.73 at 337.45.

Net on the day, the Dow was up 108.68 at 11,980.52, just 20 points from 12,000. The S&P 500 up 7.49 at 1290.84. The Nasdaq 100 up 32.07 at 2300.39.

Advance-declines were positive by 21 to 9 on the New York Stock Exchange and by about 2 to 1 on Nasdaq. Up/down volume was about 2 to 1 positive on New York on total volume of 950 million. Nasdaq traded more than 1.8 billion shares and had about a 14 to 4 positive volume ratio.

TheTechTrader.com board had an exceptionally good day, but there were some point-plus losers as well. Starting off with the gainers, Clinical Data, Inc. (CLDA) was the big winner today, up 10.14 to 25.17, or nearly 68%, on drug approval, Optical Cable Corp. (OCCF) was a big percentage gainer, up 1.35 to 5.05, and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) jumped 2.50 to 24.72.

Solar energy stocks were very strong today with Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL) up 1.64 to 29.87 and LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (LDK) 1.25 to 14.40, which are two of our favorites. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) was up 2.39 to 31.55.

In addition, Nanometrics Incorporated (NANO) advanced 71 cents to 16.54, InterMune Inc. (ITMN) 2.01 to 37.10, Cabela's Inc. (CAB) 2.16 to 23.80, Molycorp (MCP) 3.83 to 46.82, Willbros Group Inc. (WG) 1.52 to 11.48, Casella Waste Systems Inc. (CWST) 1.29 to 7.55, and Silicom Ltd. (SILC) 2.20 to 19.90.

Other gainers of note included China New Borun Corporation (BORN) up 1.82 to 14.23, Datalink Corp. (DTLK) 99 cents to 6.78, Flotek Industries Inc. (FTK) 39 cents to 6.21, IntelliPharmaCeutics International Inc. (IPCI) 79 cents to 5.65, Magic Software Enterprises Ltd. (MGIC) 62 cents to 8.56, and Novogen Limited (NVGN) 33 cents to 1.45.

Further, Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (NVMI) gained 55 cents to 9.62, Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. (PSTI) 47 cents to 3.23, and Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) in the large cap sector 1.02 to 67.97. Ciena (CIEN) rose 1.13 to 24.73.

On the downside, Acme Packet, Inc. (APKT) was down 2.44 to 51.81, and American International Group, Inc. (AIG), a Boxer Short, off another 1.05 to 41.95. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG), also a Boxer Short, lost 3.17 to 220.46, OmniVision Technologies Inc. (OVTI) got hammered for 2.20 to 26.15, and Travelzoo Inc. (TZOO) gave back 2.15 to 44.58.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, the indices had an excellent day, moving back up to test key overhead resistance on the Nasdaq 100 near 2300 and closing right there. The S&P 500 also closed right at resistance in the 1291-92 zone.

It will be interesting to see if we get an up side follow-through and breakout tomorrow, or whether they’ll hold them over here and come down hard from this area. A key point in the indices for sure.

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