The indices ended up marginally higher, although the Dow did slip into the negative column right near the close on a late-afternoon pullback. The day started out with a move up, and then a retest of support, which was successful.  That triggered a steady rise all through late morning and mid-day into mid-afternoon when they finally reached their session peaks near 1510 NDX and 947 SPX.  At that point they got a last hour pullback that pulled them off the highs to pare the gains. Net on the day the Dow lost 1.43, the S&P 500 was up 3.29, and the Nasdaq 100 up 13.06.  That was chiefly fueled by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX), jumped 12.05 today, or about 4 1/2 percent. The technicals were positive by 3 to 2 on advance-declines on New York and a like amount on Nasdaq.   But up/down volume was the story today on Nasdaq, with nearly 4 to 1 positive on total volume of more than[More...]

The indices had a real good snapback session after yesterday’s losses, moving higher from the get-go, consolidating all morning, and then moving higher mid-day.  A subsequent  mid-afternoon consolidation held support, and they came back up in the last hour to close near the session highs. Net on the day the Dow was up 74.96 at 8750.24, the S&P 500 up 10.70 at 942.46, and the Nasdaq 100 up 17.30 to 1492.74. Advance-declines were just under 4 to 1 positive on New York and 2 1/2 to 1 positive on Nasdaq.   Up/down volume was about 3 to 1 positive on New York on total volume of 1 1/4 billion.  Nasdaq traded over 2.4 billion and had a better than 4 to 1 positive volume ratio. TheTechTrader.com board was nearly all higher today.  Only a few issues were down just small fractions. Leading the way to the upside was portfolio position OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals (OGXI), up[More...]

The indices started the week with a bang and ended with big gains on the day. The session started out with a big gap to the upside.  They ran very sharply higher and hard early on, eased into a lower angle of ascent, but continued higher all morning, backed and filled mid-day, and reached their mid-day and session peaks with about 3 hours to go.   Then they rolled over to do a serious test in late afternoon that held at 1470 NDX and 940 SPX. The last hour saw a sharp snapback towards the session highs, and then they pulled back a little into the close. Net on the day the Dow was up 221.11 at 8721.44, the S&P 500 up 23.73 at 942.87, and the Nasdaq 100 up 41.55 at 1477.12.  The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX) had a monster day, up 14.40, nearly 5 percent, at 285.71. Advance-declines were 5 to 1 positive on New York and about[More...]