The unemployment rate rose to 5.8% as the economy gave up 308,000 jobs last month. It’s evident as the Dow heads back to 7200 that the market isn’t buying any of this sophistry that the downfall can be explained away by the call up of military reserves. The White House’s own figures show the deficit at record levels. All of which sent the dollar to four-year lows against the euro despite a 25 basis point rate cut from the European Central Bank.

Maybe the Yankees could contribute David Well’s $100,000 restitution to the public till. The pinstriped hurler was fined for a tell-all book in which he alleges rampant steroid use throughout baseball and boasts of pitching a perfect game the day after a drunken binge. The latter, said GM Brian Cushman, is nothing to be proud of, especially when you consider that Dock Ellis tossed a no hitter during an acid trip.