In the week ending June 25, the advanced figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 268,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 258,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 266,750, unchanged from the previous week’s revised average of 266,750. 

Thursday, the Dow gained 235.31 points (1.33%) to finish at 17,929.99, the NASDAQ closed 63.43 points (1.33%) higher at 4,842.67, and the S&P 500 increased 22.14 points (1.07%) to 2,092.91. The Russell 2000 was up 20.31 points (1.79%) at 1,151.92, and the Wilshire 5000 climbed 293.84 points (1.37%) to 21,711.37.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares traded, with advancing issues outnumbering declining issues more than 3 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares changed hands, with a more than 2 to 1 lead for advancers.

In Berlin, Germany, a court had to restart the trial of two men suspected of robbing a grocery store— because a judge kept nodding off during the proceedings. According to the Associated Press, the presiding judge decided it was better to start things over than provide immediate grounds for an appeal. German trials are typically heard by a panel of five judges—three professionals and two lay judges. It was one of the lay judges who couldn’t stay awake. It was the first day of the trial, and it was able to start again from scratch after an alternate judge took his place.

In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a father of a Salt Lake City businessman placed a $900 Idaho newspaper ad seeking women interested in marrying his 48-year-old son. The father had planned to meet potential candidates at a Coeur d’Alene resort, but managers asked his father not to conduct interviews there after getting barraged with media requests, according to an Associated Press news report. The son previously said the ad in the Coeur d’Alene Press was “embarrassing” but said he’d let his 78-year-old father go forward. About 12 women from around the U.S. expressed interest in the ad and will be interviewed in the coming weeks. The son says his father wants a grandchild to carry on the family name.

In Greenfield, Wisconsin, a couple called 911 report they were being held hostage—by their cat. The local CBS News station reports that the caller said, “This is gonna sound like a strange question but we have a cat and it’s going crazy and it attacked my husband and we’re kind of hostage in our house and we’re just wondering who we should call to do something, get rid of the cat or help us.” The cat was captured and turned over to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission.

Somewhere in China, a man spent more on a “lucky” license plate than he did on his car. The number 8 is considered the luckiest number in China, so he paid for the plate K-88888. However, it wasn’t so lucky, as the man was pulled over eight times in one day because police thought the plate was a fake—because it was a very expensive plate on a very cheap car.

In New York City, Kellogg Co. is opening its first cereal café on July 4. Reuters reports that a bowl of cereal at the cafe will cost anywhere between $6.50 and $7.50, and can be eaten in or taken out. There are plans to launch a delivery service later in the year. Celebrity chefs Christina Tosi, owner of Momofuku Milk Bar, and Anthony Rudolf of Journee, will provide the Kellogg’s cafe with new gourmet recipes, and toppings such as lime zest, thyme and malted milk powder will be available. Each bowl will come with a 12-ounce container of milk on the side.