The day started out with a pop to the upside, and then a steep loss to test support, and immediately rebound just as quickly, and sharply, with the Nasdaq 100 jumping from 2357 to 2375 in 45 minutes. The S&P 500 jumped from 1285 up to 1291, and then they backed and filled for a couple hours. They tried to rally mid-afternoon, but they got right back up to resistance, failed, and rolled over to test support. When that held, they did rally to new highs for the day only to pullback in the last 20-30 minutes, and closed mixed on the session.

Net on the day, the Dow was down 13.02 at 12,449.45, the S&P 500 up 0.40 to 1292.48, and the Nasdaq 100 up 4.87 at 2372.25.

Advance-declines were 16 to 13 positive on the New York Stock Exchange, and 15 to 10 positive on Nasdaq. Up/down volume was 3 to 2 positive on New York, with total volume of 750 million shares traded today. Nasdaq traded about 1.6 billion shares and had a 3 to 2 positive volume ratio as well.

TheTechTrader.com board, as a result, was mixed, although there were quite a few winners. Leading the way today, CROCS Inc. (CROX) was up 2.61 to 18.56, SYNNEX Corp. (SNX) up 2.68 to 34.77, and Dendreon Corp. (DNDN) up 1.52 to 14.35, continuing its sharp move of late. China New Borun Corporation (BORN) gained 97 cents to 4.32, Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IDIX) 1.06 to 13.06, and low-priced Mitek Systems Inc. (MITK) 74 cents to 8.08, closing above its 50-day moving average for the first time in 21/2 months.

In addition, Goldman Sachs (GS) was up 1.43 to 99.79, International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) 1.01 to 182.32, Universal Display Corp. (PANL) 1.32 to 41.51, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) 1.00 even to 37.32.

The solar energy group had a stellar day today, particularly low-priced issues, which had big percentage gains. JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (JASO) was up 50 cents to 1.94, or 35%; JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) up 1.67 to 6.88, or 32%; Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL), one of our favorites, 2.13 to 9.42, or 29%; MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (WFR) 84 cents to 4.75, or 22%; and LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (LDK) 84 cents to 5.52, or 18%.

First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) rose 3.03 to 41.80, or 8%.

In addition, Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI) in the biotech sector was up 1.41 to 9.44, or 17 1/2%; NuVasive, Inc. (NUVA) up 1.82 to 14.12, or 14.8%; DexCom, Inc. (DXCM) 1.27 to 10.13, or 14%; low-priced Power-One Inc. (PWER) 71 cents to 4.88, or 17%; Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. (UCTT) 74 cents to 6.79, or 12%; Travelzoo Inc. (TZOO) up 3.20 to 29.80, or 12%; and Gentiva Health Services Inc. (GTIV) 84 cents to 7.57, or 12 1/2%.

KB Home (KBH), in a strong home building sector, gained 92 cents to 8.62, or 12%. Youku.com Inc (YOKU) advanced 1.92 to 18.82, or 11%. MAKO Surgical Corp. (MAKO) was up 2.96 to 34.19, Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (EFII) 1.38 to 15.63, and OpenTable, Inc. (OPEN) 2.92 to 45.90.

On the downside, the only point-plus losers on our board today were Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ONXX), down 1.14 to 42.48, and Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (QCOR), which got hammered, down 6.20 to 35.34 on some negative news. Golar LNG Ltd. (GLNG) was down 3.53 to 44.04.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, the indices, after an early stretch to the upside, they then dropped sharply to the session lows early on, but rallied back to new highs for the day only to pullback into the close, and close mixed on the session.

Nevertheless, today can be considered a consolidation day and a good one as the indices held on with many low-priced stocks moving today.

We’ll see what kind of follow-through we get tomorrow.

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