New orders for manufactured durable goods in January increased $11.1 billion or 4.9% to $237.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, followed a 4.6% December decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.8%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 4.5%. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $8.2 billion or 11.5% to $79.7 billion. 

In the week ending February 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 272,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 262,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 272,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 273,250.

A late-day surge pushed U.S. stocks sharply higher Thursday, propelled by a recovery in energy companies and bank stocks, according to the Associated Press. The Dow climbed 212.30 points (1.29%) to 16,697.29, the NASDAQ was up 39.60 points (0.87%) at 4,582.20, and the S&P 500 closed 21.90 points (1.13%) higher at 1,951.70. The Russell 2000 increased 9.50 points (0.93%) to 1,031.57, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 221.48 points (1.12%) to finish at 19,908.96.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares traded, with a near 3 to 1 lead for advancers. On the NASDAQ, 2.6 billion shares changed hands, with 3 advancing issues for every 2 declining issues.

ON THIS DATE: In 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the National Currency Act. In 1870, in New York City, the first pneumatic-powered subway line was opened to the public. In 1919, the Grand Canyon in Arizona was established as a National Park with an act of the U.S. Congress. In 1929, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill creating the Grand Teton National Park. In 1930, New York City installed traffic lights. In 1993, six people were killed and more than a thousand injured when a van exploded in the parking garage beneath the World Trade Center in New York City. The bomb had been built by Islamic extremists. In 1998, a Texas jury rejected an $11 million lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who blamed Oprah Winfrey for a price drop after an on-air comment about mad-cow disease. In 1998, in Oregon, a health panel ruled that taxpayers must help to pay for doctor-assisted suicides. In 2009, the Pentagon reversed its 18-year policy of not allowing media to cover returning war dead. The reversal allowed some media coverage with family approval.

In Palm Coast, Florida, four people have been arrested for criminal mischief when they trashed a pizza place, causing about $1,000 in damage. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the melee started when a customer was angry that her garlic knots had cheese on them, and even though the restaurant gave her a refund, she felt it was handed to her disrespectfully.

In Newport, Shropshire, England, concerned citizens called police about an otter in distress. Upon investigation police found the “otter” was a collar from a fur coat. According to the Evening Standard, officers found humor in the wasted call though, and posted a picture of the “otter” in a patrol car with a caption saying, “Thank you to everyone for their concerns .. Ollie the Faux Otter is safely in our van recovering from his ordeal.”

In the Muswell Hill suburb of London, England, while drinking with friends at a pub, Simon Smith was persuaded to change his name to reflect his love of food. He officially changed it to Bacon Double Cheeseburger. The 33-year-old, who said he proudly signs off his work emails as “B D Cheeseburger,” told the Evening Standard he particularly got a kick out of booking into hotels on business trips. But this fiancée is not as amused about the name change, so Bacon admitted another name change might be needed ahead of their wedding.

In Hillsdale, New Jersey, some residents are being terrorized and accosted… by wild turkeys. In some neighborhoods, they are seemingly everywhere—waddling by the dozen in the road, perched on car roofs, pecking at the tires of delivery trucks. In one instance, a letter carrier felt trapped in his truck and telephoned his boss for help. The boss called 911 and officers ran the turkeys off. The postmaster explained the turkey situation as “crazy.” “I mean, they’re actually attacking, biting,” he said. “They chase the trucks—everything.”