  Because of two 3 sigma anomalies, the Standard Model (SM) fit of the
precision electroweak data has a poor confidence level, CL= 0.010. Since both
anomalies involve challenging systematic issues, it might appear that the SM
could still be valid if the anomalies resulted from underestimated systematic
error. Indeed the CL of the global fit could then increase to 0.65, but that
fit predicts a small Higgs boson mass, m_H=43 GeV, that is only consistent at
CL=0.035 with the lower limit, m_H > 114 GeV, established by direct searches.
The data then favor new physics whether the anomalous measurements are excluded
from the fit or not, and the Higgs boson mass cannot be predicted until the new
physics is understood. Some measure of statistical fluctuation would be needed
to maintain the validity of the SM, which is unlikely by broad statistical
measures. New physics is favored, but the SM is not definitively excluded.
