The markets ended narrowly mixed at the end of the day. But, the day started out with a move up off the opening, with a very tight narrow coiling pattern for the first couple hours. When the 6-day rising trendlines held on mid-morning tests, they started a steady move higher that saw the NDX go from 1907 to 1922, a new 6-year high. However, the S&P 500 was unable to get above yesterday’s high and confirm, and they rolled over in the afternoon and ended mixed on the session.

Net on the day the Dow was down less than 3 points, and the S&P 500 down less than 1 point. The Nasdaq 100 was up 5 Ã,¼, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX) was up less than 2 points.

The technicals were much better on Nasdaq than New York, where advance-declines were ahead by only 258 issues. Up/down volume was very narrowly ahead, nearly flat, on New York with a total of 1.46 billion traded. However, Nasdaq had about a 2 to 1 positive ratio on up/down volume and a 2 to 1 positive ratio on advance-declines.

TheTechTrader.com board was mostly narrowly mixed. There were a few outstanding issues on both sides. On the plus side, Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) ran hard in the morning, but backed off a bit. It still managed to close up 2.21 on 2 Ã,¼ million. Sigma Designs (SIGM) popped across 29, testing key overhead resistance and backing off late in the session. It still closed up 1.17 at 29.07, on more than 1.1 million. Zoltek(ZOLT) popped $2.45 on heavy volume of more than 2.1 million

Other stocks of note, Chart of the Week Metabolix (MBLX), a new portfolio position, gained 63 cents. FuelTek (FTEK) gained 89 cents, Dendreon (DNDN) 38 cents, and Geron (GERN) up 45 cents.

Recent Chart of the Week Ceragon Networks (CRNT) closed up 61 cents on 1 Ã,½ million.

On the downside, earnings releases affected trading in GigaMedia (GIGM), down 1.09, and Global Solutions (GSOL), down 1.74.

Other losses of note, salvage company Odyssey Exploration (OMR) gave back 88 cents after sharp gains the last couple days. Force Protection (FRPT), despite soaring this morning and moving over 31 to new all time highs, closed at 27.85, down 53 cents, a very negative reversal day with nearly 3 million traded.

Chindex (CHDX) gave back 54 cents, Color Kinetics (CLRK) 48 cents, and DXP Enterprises (DXPE) 42 cents.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, as indicated the NDX went to new 6-year highs but the S&P failed to confirm, as did the Dow, both closing slightly off on the day.

We’ll see if that leads to any further downside, but overall,today was a rather mixed and inconclusive day.

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.