The market had another positive session, moving strongly higher in the afternoon. The day started out with a burst out of the starting gate. A couple pullbacks occurred in the morning, and the indices bullishly consolidated. About mid-day they narrowed to the apex of intraday wedges. When they broke out in the early afternoon they started to move steadily higher. Late in the afternoon at the very end of the day the indices popped to new highs -- all-time highs on the Dow & also nominally on the S& P 500 -- but they backed off just in the last few minutes to bring them off the highs for the day.

Net on the day, the Dow closed over 13,900, for the first time in its history, at 13,009.07, up 45 1/2. The S&P 500 at 1552 1/2 was off the high of 1555, which was an all-time time high, up 4.80 on the day. The Nasdaq 100 was up over 11 at 2032. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX), which was pretty much a drag on Nasdaq all day, closed down 1.07.

The technicals were slightly positive on New York and mixed on Nasdaq. Advance-declines were ahead by just 260 issues on New York, but negative by 219 issues on Nasdaq. Up/down volume was 8 to 5 positive on New York with more than 1.3 billion traded. Nasdaq traded just under 1.8 billion and had about a 9 to 8 positive ratio.

So, the technicals were fairly mixed for an up-day and a bit dissapointing.

TheTechTrader.com board was mostly higher, but most of the stocks we follow moved by smaller fractions than yesterday, for sure. The star of the day today on our board was Sigma Designs (SIGM), which jumped 2.33, closing back over 30 for the first time in several months, up 2.33 to 30.85 on 2.8 million. JA Solar (JASO) closed up 1.46, and portfolio position China Medical Technologies (CMED) closed over 35, up 1.41 today on more than 1 million shares.

Other stocks of note, Immersion Corp. (IMMR) a recent Chart of the Week. was up 67 cents to 20.50. Portfolio position Spectrum Control (SPEC) tagged 18 today, closing at 17.78, up 98 cents. Portfolio position Taser (TASR) snapped back 76 cents on nearly 8 million shares, and Chart of the Week Versar (VSR) jumped 63 cents today.

Transcend Services (TRCR) passed 24 for the first time ever, up 46 cents today. Hoku Scientific (HOKU) advanced 35 cents, and CREE gained 80 cents today. Chindex (CHDX) came within 10 cents of its February all time high of 26.60, closing at 26.41, and APLX set a new multi-year high, up 41 cents.

On the downside, Charts of the Week Excel Maritime (EXM) gave back 1.94 of yesterday's 4-point gain, Rediff.com India (REDF) gave back 1.05 of its 3 1/2 point gain. So there was some profit-taking.

FuelTek (FTEK) lost 56 cents, and Research Frontiers (REFR) gave back 70 cents.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns,, the indices soared today and surged ahead to new multi-year and all-time highs, capping three days of very strong gains to end the week.

We'll see if they can follow through on Monday.

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.