Interesting, Mixed Session

The stock market indices had an interesting, mixed session. A late rally on both the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 put them in the plus column, but the Dow did not get into the plus column, although it did come off the lows.

The day started out with a sharp pop to the upside, reaching 5058 Nasdaq 100, filling the gap from yesterday morning. The S&P 500 jumped as high as 2270 1/2, but couldn’t really get over yesterday’s high. The Nasdaq 100 was stronger today. They then pulled back midday, consolidated in wedges, and in the last hour, broke out and ran back up again.

Net on the day, the Dow was down 22.05 at 19,804.72. The S&P 500 was up 4.00 at 2271.89, 8 points off its low. The Nasdaq 100 was up 11.20 at 5055.85, 3 points off its high.

Advance-declines were 15 to 13 positive on the New York Stock Exchange, and 16 to 12 1/2 positive the Nasdaq. Up/down volume was 16 to 15 positive on New York, total volume of 3.2 billion shares traded. The Nasdaq traded 1 2/3 billion shares and had a 5 to 3 positive volume ratio.

TheTechTrader.com board was marginally changed up or down, but the vast majority were to the upside. Priceline.com (PCLN) was up 1.73 to 1541.86, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) up 1.46 to 806.07, and Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) up 37 cents to 133.26, but Apple Inc. (AAPL) dropped a penny to 119.99, and Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) gave back 2.24 to 807.48.

Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) fell 42 cents to 176.54, Facebook, Inc. (FB) gained a nickel to 127.92, and First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) lost 76 cents to 34.41.

Tesla Motors, Inc. (TSLA) jumped 2.78 to 238.36.

United States Steel Corp. (X) advanced 2.69 to 34.93, on 32 million shares traded. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) was up 1.84 to 102.95, and swing traded Argan, Inc. (AGX) up 1.50 to 71.35.

The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) gained 1.28 to 73.63. The Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3X ETF (LABU) ran 1.32 to 39.23.

Checking TheTechTrader.com percent-gain leaderboard, aTyr Pharma, Inc. (LIFE) popped 80 cents, or 33%, to 3.25, on 3.1 million shares traded. Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. (CHCI) ran 53 cents, or 28%, to 2.40, on nearly 2 million shares traded. Globus Maritime Limited (GLBS) climbed 1.32, or 27%, to 6.17, on 6 million shares traded, reaching over 9.00 one point in the day.

Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (APRI) led the way up today, bouncing 1.35, or 89%, to 2.86, on 52 million shares traded, and traded over 4.00. Gravity Co., Ltd (GRVY) advanced 1.56, or 20%, to 9.35.

Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ZYNE) had a spectacular day, up 2.96, or 15%, to 22.46, but dove under 20 on a secondary announcement in afterhours.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Public Limited Company (JAZZ) exploded 13.04, or 11%, to 128.61, on 3 million shares traded.

Stepping back and reviewing the hourly chart patterns, the indices were up sharply at the opening, down into midday, and then back sharply in the afternoon, and closed with a solid gain for the blue chips, but the Dow failed to get into positive territory.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow.

Good Trading!