In the week ending April 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 267,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 276,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 266,750, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 263,250.

U.S. stock indices ended broadly lower, led by declines in banks as interest rates move lower, according to the Associated Press. The Dow lost 174.09 points (0.98%) to finish at 17,541.96, the NASDAQ closed 72.35 points (1.47%) lower at 4,848.37, and the S&P 500 decreased 24.71 points (1.20%) to 2,041.95. The Russell 2000 was down 16.03 points (1.45%) at 1,092.78, and the Wilshire 5000 fell 252.27 points (1.19%) to 21,014.61.

On the NYSE, 3.2 billion shares changed hands, with declining issues outnumbering advancing issues more than 3 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares traded, with a near 3 to 1 lead for decliners.

ON THIS DATE: In 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. In 1834, in New York City, Cornelius Lawrence became the first mayor to be elected by popular vote in a city election. In 1913, the 17th Amendment was ratified, requiring direct election of senators. In 1935, the Works Progress Administration was approved by the U.S. Congress. In 1952, U.S. President Harry Truman seized steel mills to prevent a nationwide strike. In 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run breaking Babe Ruth’s record. In 1986, actor Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, California. In 1994, smoking was banned in the Pentagon and at all U.S. military bases.

In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a woman was seen scooping lettuce out of the salad bar with her hands at a pizza restaurant. Another woman told management, and an employee changed out the lettuce. When the woman again went and scooped lettuce out with her hands, the other woman told her not to do that, and the unsanitary woman punched the other woman in the face. The New York Daily News reports that she didn’t realize she was punching an off-duty police officer who was eating lunch with her children.

In New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a thief’s guilty conscience led him or her to return what was stolen—30 years later. Police received a sign saying New Smyrna Beach Says No to Drugs, along with a $50 money order. According to the Associated Press, an anonymous note suggested using the money to reinstall the sign, asked for forgiveness, and said the sign was stolen in the late 1980s during “a fit of youthful exuberance.”