The stock market indices ended mixed today. After a very strong start they gave back all of it and then some on Nasdaq, but managed to hold onto the gains on the Dow and S&P 500. Still, it was a sloppy close, and pretty much a consolidation day for the S&P 500 as it stair-stepped its way down in an orderly fashion for the rest of the day after the opening big pop.

The Nasdaq 100 did manage to have a snapback midday, but that was about it, as it closed at the session lows.

Net on the day, the Dow was up 83.93 at 11,858.52. The S&P 500 gained 5.48 at 1279.21, about 9 points off its high. The Nasdaq 100 was down 4.17 at 2221.07, 28 points off its high.

It was a very sloppy day today on Nasdaq, with large-cap stocks leading the way on the downside.

Advance-declines, however, were 21 1/2 to 8 positive on the New York Stock Exchange, and better than 2 to 1 positive on Nasdaq despite the losses in the NDX. Up/down volume was 13 to 5 positive on New York with total volume of 1.9 billion shares traded. Nasdaq traded 2.65 billion shares.

So, heavy volume on the exchanges today on options expiration day.

TheTechTrader.com board was higher for the most part today. Leading the way today by far was Nexxus Lighting, Inc. (NEXS) up 1.38 to 3.97, a gain of 54% on 4.4 million shares traded. Coffee Holding Co.Inc. (JVA) advanced 1.78 to 7.73, or 30%, on 2.6 million shares. General Maritime Corp. (GMR) gained 50 cents to 2.31 on 6.6 million, nearly 28%, and New York & Company Inc. (NWY) 1.16 to 6.61 on nearly 2 million, a 21% gain.

In addition, Dex One Corporation (DEXO) rose 86 cents to 5.23 on 1.5 million, SuperMedia Inc. (SPMD) 1.07 to 6.81, on a million shares, and Westell Technologies Inc. (WSTL) 53 cents to 3.45, on 1 million shares. Star Scientific, Inc. (CIGX) jumped 39 cents to 3.64 on 13.7 million, US Energy Corp. (USEG) 58 cents to 5.79 on a half million shares, and VASCO Data Security International Inc. (VDSI) 1.13 to 11.49, up 11% today.

BroadSoft, Inc. (BSFT) had a 5% gain today to 52.57. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) jumped 1.47 to 16.67 on 28.3 million shares today, up nearly 10%. Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (CYTX) was up 61 cents to 7.22 on 1.1 million, jumping 9%, and Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARIA) rose 52 cents to 6.40 on 9 million shares, up nearly 9%. Goldman Sachs (GS) advanced 4.21 to 159.96.

Large-cap stocks were mostly lower today, with Apple Inc. (AAPL) down 3.97 to 330.67, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) down 4.50 to 209.40, and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) down 4.85 to 246.81. Travelzoo Inc. (TZOO) lost 1.53 to 46.32, and Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NOG) dropped 1.33 to 28.25.

Those are the point-plus losers other than some of the ultra-short ETFs. The iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) lost 1.12 to 35.36, the Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (TZA) 1.69 to 42.26, and the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) lost 1.47 to 42.15.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, the indices jumped to the session highs right at the opening to test key resistance near 2250 NDX and just under 1290 SPX.

After reaching their highs for the day, they then worked their way lower until midday, bounced early afternoon, but then rolled over in the afternoon to close near the session lows on the NDX and just above them on the SPX. So, it was a negative way to close the week.

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