The indices had a turnaround session, fueled by pre-market futures. The market gapped from up at the get-go and rallied strongly in the first half-hour. But after that it was a different story between the blue chips and the NDX.

The highs for the day on the NDX were reached early in the morning. The S&P and Dow, however, kept making higher highs all day and closed at the highs for the day going away. Nasdaq trailed for the rest of the session, even though it did close up on the day.

Net on the day the Dow was up more than 102 points, the S&P 500 up nearly 11, the NDX up just 5.40, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX) up just 2 points. A better showing there would have helped Nasdaq.

Advance-declines were better than 2 to 1 positive on New York, but just about 3 to 2 positive on Nasdaq. Up/down volume was 3 Ã,½ to 1 positive on New York, with a total of 1.43 billion traded. Nasdaq traded nearly 1.8 billion, with about a 2 to 1 positive ratio on advancing volume over declining volume.

However, TheTechTrader.com board was fractionally scattered across the board. On the plus side, Onyx Pharmaceutcals (ONXX) had another strong follow-up session to yesterday’s incredible performance, gaining another 1.87 on 24 million shares. That was the only point-plus gainer on my board, other than former Chart of the Week Versant (VSNT), which gained 2.19 on the biggest volume in the last couple months, hitting a new nearly 3-year high today.

Other gainers of note, Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) snapped back from recent losses, up 70 cents. Portfolio position Aluminum Corp. of China (ACH) jumped 59 cents, partly on news of a potential takeover of ALCOA.

US Oil Trust (USO) oil ETF gained nearly a point today on the surge in the price of oil. Chindex (CHDX), after early morning losses, rebounded more than 2 points to close up 90 cents on heavy volume today. Fuel Tech (FTEK) also rebounded 64 cents, Gmarket (GMKT) 40 cents, Global Sources (GSOL) 30 cents, and Nuance Communications (NUAN) 53 cents.

On the downside, Home Inns & Hotels (HMIN) got hammered for 2.38, closing not far off the lows for the session. That was the only point-plus loser on my board.

Other losses of note, Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) was down 62 cents, Digimarc (DMRC) down 43 cents, and Research Frontiers (REFR) gave back 80 cents from its recent sharp upmove.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, today’s intraday patterns were vastly different between Nasdaq and the blue chips, as Nasdaq failed to get through its morning highs and resistance highs from two days up around the 1790-91 zone, which is currently short-term resistance. The S&P 500 did take out short-term resistance, and hit secondary resistance, breaking late in the session and closing near the highs for the day going away.

It’s now right at the 1444 area, which had been support until recently broken and now is resistance. That’s an area to keep an eye on to see if there’s a follow-through tomorrow. But it will need some confirming help from the NDX.

Harry Boxer is a technical consultant to many Wall Street hedge funds and large institutional traders, and author of TheTechTrader.com, a real-time diary of his day, swing and intermediate-term trades. For more of Harry Boxer, sign up for a free 15-day trial to his Real-Time Technical Trading Diary, or sign up for a free 30-day trial to his Top Charts of the Week service.