In the week ending March 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 231,000, an increase of 21,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 210,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 222,500, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 220,500.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.46%, up from 4.43% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.94%, up from 3.90%.

Thursday, the Dow closed 93.85 points (0.38%) higher at 24,895.21, the NASDAQ increased 31.30 points (0.42%) to 7,427.95, and the S&P 500 was up 12.17 points (0.45%) at 2,738.97. The Russell 2000 was down 2.57 points (0.16%) at 1,571.96, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 118.49 points (0.42%) to finish at 28,404.20.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 6/32, decreasing its yield to 2.863%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 12/32, bringing its yield down to 3.129%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1820, Congress passed the Land Act that paved the way for westward expansion of North America. In 1822, Charles M. Graham received the first patent for artificial teeth. In 1862, during the U.S. Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (built from the remnants of the USS Merrimack) fought to a draw in a five-hour battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia. In 1863, General Ulysses Grant was appointed commander-in-chief of the Union forces. In 1933, the U.S. Congress began its 100 days of enacting New Deal legislation. In 1945, during World War II, U.S. B-29 bombers launched incendiary bomb attacks against Japan. In 1954, WNBT-TV (now WNBC-TV), in New York, broadcast the first local color television commercials. The ad was Castro Decorators of New York City. In 1959, Mattel introduced Barbie at the annual Toy Fair in New York. In 1964, production began on the first Ford Mustang. In 1975, work began on the Alaskan oil pipeline. In 1989, in the U.S., a strike forced Eastern Airlines into bankruptcy. In 1990, Dr. Antonia Novello was sworn in as the first female and Hispanic surgeon general.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In San Francisco, self-driving cars are causing road rage. The Los Angeles Times reports that a vehicle operated by General Motors’ Cruise driverless car division was waiting at a green light for pedestrians to cross when a shouting man ran across the street against the do-not-walk signal and struck its bumper and hatch, damaging a taillight. The car was in autonomous mode but a driver was behind the wheel. In a separate incident, another GM autonomous vehicle with a human driving had stopped behind a taxi when the taxi driver got out and slapped the front passenger-side window.

In Columbia, Maryland, a church used an unorthodox way to attract new members. The Washington Post reported that the church gave away the cars to increase attendance at its new location. It was the first Sunday at a building in a strip mall for the seven-year-old nondenominational church. Pastor Stephen Chandler said the predominantly African-American church normally draws up to 1,100 people. This week, the church gave away 2,250 tickets in advance of three services.

In New York City, Hunter College has filed a lawsuit against a 32-year-old woman, saying she owes more than $94,000 in unpaid residence hall fees since she dropped out in 2016. According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit says the woman was denied summer housing in 2016. She remained in her dorm, despite the school sending several notices that she would be charged $150 a day if she stayed. She was issued a 30-day eviction notice in September 2017, but refused to leave, prompting the school to file its lawsuit. The woman, a former geography major, says she plans to stay and fight the case.

In Gloucester County, New Jersey, a man unsuccessfully challenged a $1,635 Uber ride that he ordered while into.xicated. NJ.com reported that the man thought he was taking an Uber to where he was staying near the West Virginia University campus. When his driver woke him up two hours into the more than 300-mile journey to the man’s home in New Jersey, the man says he didn’t know what was happening or who the driver was.

Have a great weekend, everyone! And, don’t forget to “spring forward.”