Alex Smith needs to protect himself a little better

Posted by Mike Florio on September 19, 2013, 6:02 PM EDT

AP

With all the concern regarding the ability of Andy Reid’s former quarterback in Philly putting himself in harm’s way, red flags should be hoisted regarding a sudden reckless streak from Reid’s current quarterback in Kansas City.

Smith, who lost his starting job in San Francisco after a concussion opened the door for Colin Kaepernick, repeatedly put himself in harm’s way during the opening drive in last Sunday’s home opener against the Cowboys.

During the 13-play, 77-yard scoring march, Smith ran the ball five times.  Every time, he finished the effort with something other than a slide or a run out of bounds.  At one point, Smith capped a 17-yard run on third and 15 by launching himself butt first along the sideline.

On each of Smith’s next three runs during the game, he either went out of bounds or slid.  So maybe it was adrenaline on the opening drive, and maybe he was told to calm down and be careful.

Regardless, when we’re watching and waiting for Mike Vick to get blown up, sir on Thursday night, it makes sense to also keep an eye on whether Smith gets ear-holed.

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Encouraging Jobless Claims Data Raised Expectations of Better US Employment Report

ONG Focus | Insights | Written by Oil N' Gold | Fri Mar 08 13 00:10 ET

Financial markets climbed further higher on better-than-expected US economic data. In the European session, the euro soared after the ECB left the monetary policies unchanged and President Draghi affirmed that the Eurozone would stage a recovery later this year. In the commodity sector, crude oil prices rose as driven by strength in the euro and lifted speculations of a strong US employment report today. Gold slipped as pauses in monetary policies by the BOE, ECB and BOJ upstaged geopolitical tensions in the Korean peninsula. The UNSC approved sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear tests.

Both the ECB and the BOE left their monetary stance unchanged. The ECB left the main refinancing rate unchanged at 0.75% and did not announce new quantitative easing measures. The central bank saw downside risks to economic developments. These risks include "the possibility of weaker than expected domestic demand and exports" and "slow or insufficient implementation of structural reforms" in the bloc. Meanwhile, the need to cut costs would delay recovery. President Draghi expected the Eurozone should return to growth in 2014 with the forecast range between 0- 2%. Inflation next year would range from 0.6% to 2%. The BOE announced to keep the Bank Rate at 0.5% and the asset purchases at 375B pound. The committee only released a short statement and details of the discussion should not be disclosed until release of the minutes on March 20.

In the US, initial jobless claims slipped -7K to 340K in the week ended March 2, sending the 4-week moving average -7K lower to 349K. Continuing claims, however, increased +3K to 3 094K after the prior week was revised +17K higher to 3 091K. The market is awaiting the employment report due today. Non-farm payrolls probably increased +158K in February from 157K a month ago. Unemployment rate might have stayed unchanged at 7.9% last month.

In response to North Korea’s latest nuclear test, the UNSC passed a resolution approving new sanctions against the reclusive regime. There are new financial sanctions aimed at blocking financial transactions. It also extended an existing ban on North Korea's trade in items related to the nuclear and ballistic missile program. US Ambassador Susan Rice stated that “taken together, these sanctions will bite, and bite hard… They increase North Korea's isolation and raise the cost to North Korea's leaders of defying the international community". A few days before voting of the resolution began, North Korea threatened to end the armistice signed after the Korea War 60 years ago.

 

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Better US Employment Data Sent Market Higher

ONG Focus | Insights | Written by Oil N' Gold | Thu Mar 07 13 00:35 ET

Wall Street rose higher as the ADP employment report showed that the US job market was stronger than expected. The optimism upstaged Philly Fed President Plosser’s reiteration of his stance that the last round of asset purchases by the Fed should be tapered. The Fed also released the latest Beige Book but is caught little attention. In short, the report suggested that economic activity generally expanded at a “modest to moderate pace”. In the commodity sector, crude oil prices slipped amid higher than expected increase in crude inventory and a surprising drop in utilization rate. Gold ended the day flat. The yellow metal stayed firm despite strength in the US dollar amid concerns over the renewed geopolitical tensions as the US representative walked out of talks with Iran and North Korea’s threat of cancelling the 60-year armistice.

In the US, the ADP employment report showed that private payrolls increased +198K in February from an upwardly revised 215K gain in the prior month. The majority of the payroll increase was driven service providing companies. Echoing Dallas Fed President Fisher’s call to slow the of the asset purchases, Philly Fed President Plosser suggested the central to “taper these purchases with an aim toward ending them before the end of the year", given the “meager benefits” to be provided by these measures. Plosser is not a voter in the FOMC committee this year but he stressed that his stance is based on the assumption that the US economy would expand to an extent that the unemployment rate would be lowered by almost a full percentage point by the end of the year.

The Fed also released the Beige Book yesterday. The report suggested that economic activity expanded at a “modest to moderate pace” with the majority of Districts reporting a “modest” improvement in labor market conditions. Hiring plans were, however, “limited” in several Districts. On consumer spending, most Districts reported an expansion despite slowdown in several others. Manufacturing activities “modestly improved in most regions” and residential real estate markets “strengthened in nearly all Districts”.

On oil inventory, the DOE/EIA reported that total crude oil and petroleum products stocks declined -2.43 mmb to 1086.64 mmb in the week ended March 1. Crude stockpile increased +3.83 mmb to 381.35 mmb as inventory soared in 4 out of 5 PADDs. Cushing stock added +0.26 mmb to 50.84 mmb. Utilization rate was down -2.90% to 82.2%.

Gasoline inventory dipped -1.86 mmb to 227.88 mmb although demand slipped -2.71% to 8.36M bpd. Production dropped -6.57% to 8.61M bpd while imports climbed +6.05% to 0.61M bpd. Distillate inventory fell -3.83 mmb to 120.35 mmb as demand gained +10.14% to 3.86M bpd. Imports dipped -28.21% to 0.11M bpd while production fell -5.08% to 4.26M bpd during the week.

 

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