New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $12.0 billion or 5.1% to $225.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down four of the last five months, followed a 0.5% November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.2%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.9%. Transportation equipment, also down four of the last five months, led the decrease, $10.1 billion or 12.4% to $71.3 billion. 

In the week ending January 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 278,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised level, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 283,000, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week’s revised average.

The rollercoaster ride continues as U.S. stock indices rose Thursday due mostly to an increase in the price of oil. The Dow gained 125.18 points (0.79%) to finish at 16,069.64, the NASDAQ climbed 38.51 points (0.86%) to 4,506.68, and the S&P 500 was up 10.41 points (0.55%) at 1,893.36. The Russell 2000 increased by 0.53 (0.05%) to 1,003.27, and the Wilshire 5000 closed 90.49 points (0.47%) higher at 19,318.78.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares changed hands, with advancing issues outnumbering declining issues 2 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares traded, with a slight lead for advancers.

ON THIS DATE: In 1802, John Beckley became the first Librarian of Congress. In 1861, in America, Kansas became the 34th state of the Union. In 1886, the first successful petrol-driven motorcar, built by Karl Benz, was patented. In 1936, the first members of major league baseball’s Hall of Fame were named in Cooperstown, New York. In 1963, the first members to the NFL’s Hall of Fame were named in Canton, Ohio. In 1990, Joseph Hazelwood, the former skipper of the Exxon Valdez, went on trial in Anchorage, Alaska, on charges that stemmed from America’s worst oil spill. Hazelwood was later acquitted of all the major charges and was convicted of a misdemeanor. In 1995, the San Francisco 49ers became the first team in National Football League (NFL) history to win five Super Bowl titles. The 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49 to 26.

In Newquay, Cornwall, England, lifeboat volunteers, a Coastguard rescue team and rescue helicopter all responded to a call of a person struggling in the water. They spent more than 90 minutes searching in the dark before finding a clothed, inflatable blow-up doll. Gareth Horner, lifeboat operations manager, told news.com.au the angler had genuine concerns after seeing the clothed inflatable figure. “The caller gave accurate information which led to a successful search and a positive outcome,” he said.