In the week ending June 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 231,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 228,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 224,500, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 222,250.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.52%, down from 4.55% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.99%, down from 4.04%.

Thursday, the Dow gained 181.92 points (0.75%) to finish at 24,356.74, the NASDAQ closed 3.75 points (1.12%) higher at 7,586.43, and the S&P 500 was up 23.39 points (0.86%) at 2,736.61. The Russell 2000 increased 19.06 points (1.15%) to 1,679.48, and the Wilshire 5000 climbed 244.53 points (0.86%) to 28,621.51.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was unchanged, with its yield down to 2.831%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 9/32, decreasing its yield to 2.946%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1699, Captain William Kidd, the pirate, was captured in Boston, Massachusetts, and deported back to England. In 1777, British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolution. In 1885, Louis Pasteur successfully tested his anti-rabies vaccine. In 1928, “The Lights of New York” was previewed in New York’s Strand Theatre. It was the first all-talking movie. In 1933, the first All-Star baseball game was held in Chicago. The American League beat the National League 4-2. In 1942, diarist Anne Frank and her family took refuge from the Nazis in Amsterdam. In 1945, President Harry Truman signed an order creating the Medal of Freedom. In 1948, Frieda Hennok became the first woman to serve as the commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. In 1957, Althea Gibson won the Wimbledon women’s singles tennis title. She was the first black athlete to win the event. In 1981, the Dupont Company announced an agreement to purchase Conoco, Inc. (Continental Oil Co.) for $7 billion. At the time it was the largest merger in corporate history. In 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that retirement plans could not pay women smaller monthly payments solely because of their gender. In 1985, Martina Navratilova won her 4th consecutive Wimbledon singles title. In 1996, Steffi Graf won her seventh Wimbledon title.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Minersville, Pennsylvania, a 44-year-old parking ticket has been paid. According to the Associate Press, the police department received a letter last week with $5 and a note inside. The return address was “Feeling guilty, Wayward Road, Anytown, Ca.” Police Chief Michael Combs told WNEP-TV the note said, “Dear PD, I’ve been carrying this ticket around for 40 plus years. Always intending to pay. Forgive me if I don’t give you my info. With respect, Dave.” The fine for the 1974 parking ticket in the eastern Pennsylvania town was $2. But the person added $3 for interest. The same ticket today would be $20.

In Warsaw, Poland, an environmental group has received a phone bill of 10,000 zlotys ($2,650). The group was using the phone transmitter to track migratory movements of a stork. According to the Associated Press, the bird’s last signal came from Sudan on April 26. But later, the group heard that some 20 hours of calls had been made using the SIM card in Sudan.

In the UK, during a speech in the House of Commons, Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson was interrupted—by his phone. He was speaking about Islamic State terr.orists in Syria when Siri―triggered by the country’s name―said “I found something on the web for Syria.” The Huffington Post reports that as Williamson began looking around in surprise, House of Commons members erupted in laughs. “It is very rare that you’re heckled by your own mobile phone,” Williamson said as he apologized.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!