In the week ending May 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 265,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 262,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 279,500, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 283,750. This is the lowest level for this average since May 6, 2000 when it was 279,250.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.80%, up from 3.68% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.02%, up from 2.94%.

Thursday, the Dow closed 82.08 points (0.46%) higher at 17,924.06, the NASDAQ climbed 25.90 points (0.53%) to 4,945.54, and the S&P 500 increased 7.85 points (0.38%) to 2,088.00. The Russell 2000 gained 6.18 points (0.51%) to finish at 1,225.54, and the Wilshire 5000 was up 81.02 points (0.37%) at 22,048.11.

On the NYSE, 3.2 billion shares traded, with 1.4 advancing issues for every declining issue. On the NASDAQ, 2.8 billion shares changed hands, with a 1.2 to 1 lead for advancers.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 17/32, decreasing its yield to 2.184%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 1 17/32, bringing its yield down to 2.913%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1541, south of present-day Memphis, Tennessee, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River, one of the first European explorers to ever do so. In 1794, the United States Post Office was established. In 1847, the rubber tire was patented by Robert W. Thompson. In 1884, Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri. In 1886, pharmacist Dr. John Styth Pemberton invented what would later be called “Coca-Cola.” In 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a Joint Resolution that designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. In 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrated Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. In 1956, Alfred E. Neuman appeared on the cover of “Mad Magazine” for the first time.  In 1963, Sean Connery starred in the first James Bond movie, “Dr. No.” In 1976, the theme song from Welcome Back, Kotter reached No. 1 on the pop singles chart. In 1984, Joanie (Erin Moran) and Chachi (Scott Baio) got married on ABC-TV’s “Happy Days.” In 1985, “New Coke” was released to the public on the 99th anniversary of Coca-Cola. In 1997, Larry King received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1999, the first female cadet graduated from The Citadel military college.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Los Angeles, California, authorities questioned the back-injury disability pay for a police officer after seeing a new video. The video posted online shows the officer picking up a 5-gallon bucket of ice water and pour it over a fellow officer. According to the Associated Press, the officer has pled guilty to insurance fraud.

In Boston, Massachusetts, a woman participating in the Boston Marathon was dared by her daughter to kiss a random, good-looking guy as she ran through the town of Wellesley, where the women of Wellesley College traditionally offer kisses to runners. She did, and the kiss had such an effect on her that her daughter took to social media to try to find the man. They finally received a letter—from the man’s wife. According to the local FOX News station, the unidentified man’s wife said the attention was fun but that the couple wanted to remain anonymous. The letter was kind and gracious, and there are no hard feelings between the two women.

In Hamilton, Pennsylvania, a jailed man on the verge of gaining his freedom was put back behind bars. According to NJ.com, as he was going through the process of being released, the man punched two corrections officers. The news report did not say why.

In Hefei, Anhui province, China, a 21-year-old man collapsed onto the pavement outside an internet café. According to The Telegraph, a cleaning lady at the café said she had seen the man stagger out of the building following a two-week online binge during which he had chain-smoked, repeatedly dodged showers and eaten almost nothing. When paramedics arrived to take the man to hospital he reportedly told them: “Leave me alone and turn on the computer for me. I want to surf the internet.”

In Erwin, North Carolina, a couple was driving with their dog in their truck when something spooked the dog. UPI reports that the dog retreated to the floor of the driver’s side and sat all of her 90-plus pounds on the gas pedal. The wife, who was driving, steered the truck towards a fence in hopes of stopping it. Instead, they ended up in someone’s swimming pool.

In Platte, South Dakota, two candidates split the vote for mayor in April. According to the Associated Press, an old state statute says certain elections can be determined by a high card draw or a roll of the dice. The incumbent mayor picked dice as his game of choice. His opponent rolled a seven to become Platte’s mayor for the next two years, while the incumbent rolled a four.

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