In after-hours trading, AAPL fell 2.15 shy of a 150.24 rally target I’d posted in the chat room.  The miss is attributable to disappointing iPhone sales in the first quarter of 2017. The stock spiked irrationally higher on the news, presumably driven by algorithms that are wont to act even more stupidly and irrationally than the humans who program them. At the end of the day, the result was a bull-trap high that is likely to cap the stock for a while — perhaps for a few days or longer. This will undoubtedly weigh on the broad averages, particularly the NASDAQ, which is represented by a popular ETF trading vehicle QQQ.  The Cubes, as they are known, fell a tad shy of their target as well, although the technical evidence is very persuasive that they eventually will achieve it. That would mean AAPL itself is likely to turn higher after correcting today’s excesses, thence to resume its seemingly inexorable trek into the wild blue yonder. Under the circumstances, and weakness in the stock in the days ahead should be regarded as a buying opportunity. _______ UPDATE (May 3, 8:05 p.m. ET): The stock has recouped its earnings-news losses more quickly than I’d anticipated, trampolining off a sleazy shakedown at the opening bell. The 150.24 target identified above remains viable.