After moving upward for two straight months, existing-home sales retreated in April on both a monthly and annualized basis, according to the National Association of Realtors. All four major regions saw no gain in sales activity last month. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, decreased 2.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.46 million in April from 5.60 million in March. With last month’s decline, sales are now 1.4% below a year ago and have fallen year-over-year for two straight months.

In the week ending May 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 234,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 223,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 219,750, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 213,500.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.66%, up from 4.61% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.15%, up from 4.08%.

Thursday, the Dow closed 75.05 points (0.30%) lower at 24,811.76, the NASDAQ was down 1.53 points (0.02%) at 7,424.43, and the S&P 500 decreased 5.53 points (0.20%) to 2727.76. The Russell 2000 was virtually unchanged at 1,628.22, and the Wilshire 5000 closed 53.04 points (0.19%) lower at 28,391.12.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 6/32, decreasing its yield to 2.972%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 18/32, bringing its yield down to 3.124%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1787, the Constitutional convention opened in Philadelphia with George Washington presiding. In 1844, the gasoline engine was patented by Stuart Perry. In 1925, John Scopes was indicted for teaching the Darwinian theory in school. In 1927, the “Movietone News” was shown for the first time at the Sam Harris Theatre in New York City. In 1935, Babe Ruth hit his final homerun, his 714th, and set a record that would stand for 39 years. In 1935, Jesse Owens tied the world record for the 100-yard dash. He ran it in 9.4 seconds. He also broke three other world track records. In 1968, the Gateway Arch, part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri, was dedicated. In 1981, daredevil Daniel Goodwin scaled Chicago’s Sears Tower, while wearing a “Spiderman” costume, in 7 1/2 hours. In 1986, approximately 7 million Americans participated in “Hands Across America,” a benefit event from which proceeds were donated to local charities to fight hunger and homelessness and help those in poverty. In 1997, U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond became the longest-serving senator in U.S. history (41 years and 10 months). In 2001, Erik Weihenmayer, 32, of Golden, Colorado, became the first blind climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest. In 2001, Sherman Bull, 64, of New Canaan, Connecticut, became the oldest climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest. In 2006, in Houston, former Enron Corp. chiefs Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skillinng were convicted of conspiracy and fraud for the downfall of Enron.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Zanesville, Ohio, a 93-year-old man who decided to play one last round of golf before his physical ailments totally prevented it, ended his decades of play with a personal victory. The man made his first-ever hole-in-one at the 152-yard third hole last month at Green Valley Golf Course in Zanesville with a 5-wood. He told The Zanesville Times Recorder “the Lord knew” this was his last round and gave him a hole-in-one.

In Perth, Australia, customers at a restaurant are offered water pistols to be able to enjoy their outdoor dining experience. It seems that the owner of 3Sheets restaurant became annoyed with seagulls pestering its patrons. He decided to equip each table with a water pistol to scare the birds away, and customers say the strategy works.

In San Francisco, California, a book nearly five decades overdue has been returned to the Eureka Valley branch of the city’s public library. The copy of Eldridge Cleaver’s memoir “Soul On Ice” was due back at the branch December 9, 1970, making it 47 years, four months and 29 days late. The library’s late fee would’ve been $1,731.70 if it didn’t cap the fine at $10.01. The branch manager told the San Francisco Chronicle she’d like to know who the library patron is so she can get the story behind the returned book.

In Loerrach, Germany, police were called to investigate a domestic disturbance. Officers sent to the scene found there was a loud argument going on—but it was between a 22-year-old man and a parrot. According to the Associated Press, the man told police he had been annoyed with the bird, which belonged to his girlfriend. The parrot responded to being shouted at with loud noises of its own. Police said it couldn’t speak but could bark like a dog.

Enjoy the holiday weekend! And a big thanks to all who are serving or have served our country! NewsDash will be back in your inbox Tuesday.