In the week ending April 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 234,000, a decrease of 25,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 259,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 250,000, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 254,500.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.10%, down from 4.14% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.36%, down from 3.39%. 

Thursday, the Dow ticked up 14.80 points (0.07%) to 20,662.95, the NASDAQ increased 14.47 points (0.25%) to 5,878.95, and the S&P 500 was up 4.54 points (0.19%) at 2,357.49. The Russell 2000 closed 12.28 points (0.91%) higher at 1,264.42, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 73.42 points (0.30%) to finish at 24,549.49.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares changed hands, with advancing issues outnumbering declining issues more than 3 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.9 billion shares traded, with a more than 2 to 1 lead for advancers.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was 2.337%. The price of the 30-year Treasury note was up 1/32, decreasing its yield to 2.986%. 

ON THIS DATE: In 1798, the territory of Mississippi was organized. In 1862, Union General Ulysses S. Grant defeated Confederates at the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee. In 1888, P.F. Collier published a weekly periodical for the first time under the name “Collier’s.” In 1927, the first long-distance TV transmission was sent from Washington, D.C., to New York City. The audience saw an image of Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover. In 1930, the first steel columns were set for the Empire State Building. In 1933, prohibition ended in the United States. In 1940, Booker T. Washington became the first black person to be pictured on a U.S. postage stamp. In 1948, the musical “South Pacific” by Rogers and Hammerstein debuted on Broadway. In 1948, the United Nations’ World Health Organization began operations. In 1963, at the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus became the youngest golfer to win the Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament. In 1970, John Wayne won his first and only Oscar for his role in “True Grit.” In 1980, the U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Iran and imposed economic sanctions in response to the taking of hostages on November 4, 1979. In 1983, Specialist Story Musgrave and Don Peterson made the first Space Shuttle spacewalk. In 2000, U.S. President Clinton signed the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act of 2000. The bill reversed a Depression-era law and allows senior citizens to earn money without losing Social Security retirement benefits.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES! 

In Kent, Ohio, a woman went into a clothing store fitting room and started stuffing clothes in her purse. She heard store closing announcements, but wanted to finish her deed. When she came out, she realized she was locked in the store, so she called 911. According to the Associated Press, police found the stolen items in her purse and arrested her.

In Leesburg, Florida, when a nurse heard a couple had named their newborn baby Juliette, she told the parents a baby named Romeo was born that same day. Due to privacy laws, she couldn’t tell them where Romeo’s mother’s room was, but Juliette’s parents found them. According to the Orlando Sentinel, hospital staff dressed Romeo in a tuxedo and Juliette in a dress for pictures.

Have a wonderful weekend!