Suns Surpass Pelicans;Knicks Lose Again;McCartney in Moscow

The big scorers were out Friday night in the NBA.For the Golden State Warriors,Stephen Curry posted a huge 52 as they manhandled the New York Knicks 123-103 at Madison Square Garden.The Knicks are now five and a half games out of the final playoff spot.*
It's definitely frustrating,how we're losing the games,Knicks star Carmelo Anthony said.It's time we should have it down pat right now.We should have it.*
Meanwhile,the Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic scored a career high 40 points in their conquest of the New Orleans Pelicans 116-104 in the Arizona desert city.Anthony Davis scored 32 for the losers.*
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was shining in the Honda Classic Friday.The former World Number One was looking like his old self with his second round 11 under par 66 at PGA National in Florida.He had shot a 63 in Thursday's opening round.
Brendon de Jonge of Zimbabwe is in second place at -10.Tiger Woods was thankful just made the cut on the tough course with his even par,but Phil Mickelson goes home for the weekend,missing the cut at 1 over par.*
I found some good music this week in the jazzy "Rio" by Duran Duran,now digitally remastered;and Sir Paul McCartney with his exceptional live performance of "Back In The USSR" in Russia itself,complete with dancing girls.Russia's been making the big news lately with the Sochi Olympics and the situation in Ukraine."Well,the Ukraine girls really knock me out.They leave the West behind.And Moscow girls make me sing and shout.And Georgia's always on my mind."(Lennon-McCartney)

Market Quiet;Tornadoes Strike

The stock market was slightly positive this week,with the S&P 500 Index managing a gain of 0.28%.This mirrors the economy,which is growing at a leisurely pace of 1.8%,according to the latest GDP number.PIMCO's new normal hypothesis is definitely being borne out by such reports as the recovery fails to gather much steam,but is nonetheless real.The prospect of further economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve is unlikely as long as data continue on the current positive track,which leaves traders in a guarded mood in light of the Iranian situation,high oil prices and question marks in Europe.
Frankly,things are looking a bit toppy at this point,in the absence of further indications.One could come next Friday with the employment report due from the Labor Department.The Institute for Supply Management will also release its service sector data next week,but the winding down of earnings season leaves everyone feeling a little flat.
An early severe weather season is punishing the Midwest and South as tornado outbreaks from Indiana to Alabama had fatal consequences.Entire small towns were razed to the ground by fierce winds that left 31 dead in Indiana,Kentucky and Ohio.A cold air mass from the Rocky Mountains clashed with warm air,resulting in the unusually violent beginning to meteorological spring,which started March 1.
The Phoenix Suns bested the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix.Jared Dudley,26,led the Suns to their conquest,scoring the game high 22 points,with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.For L.A.,Blake Griffin topped the stats with 17 points,7 rebounds and 1 assist.The Clippers fell to 21-12 on the year,while Phoenix still lags behind them with a record of 16-20.
The S&P futures dropped 5.70 Friday evening,while bond index futures rose.

Storm Has Few Clues,Light Market Week Ahead

Friday was a mixed night for Arizona basketball teams into the 2nd quarter.In Dallas,the Phoenix Suns trailed the Dallas Mavericks 48-38.Suns superstar Steve Nash was knocked out of the game in the 1st quarter when he was elbowed in the head.Nash was able to walk off the court to the locker room.Meanwhile,Arizona State nursed a slim lead over Nevada 56-52.
A storm approaching the East Coast puzzled forecasters because it originated over the Pacific Ocean,where there are few data collection points.The same obtains as it crosses the mountains.Finally,a huge blocking High off the East Coast is so rare,there are few data points to compare it with.The best guess is that the storm will stay farther out to sea,sparing the coast of anything besides snow showers.
Next week will be a quiet one for the market as the approaching Christmas holiday diminishes trading activity.New and Existing Home Sales reports will provide a little something for the light volume to react to.For the past week,the S&P nudged higher by 0.3.Looking to Monday's opening,S&P futures stepped back 0.10 Friday evening,while the 10-year Treasury futures saw a decline in yield and a gain in price.
Update:The basketball games finished as they were in the 2nd quarter,with Phoenix losing to Dallas 106-91,and Arizona State holding on to their slim lead for a 78-75 win over Nevada.