In the week ending November 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 249,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 239,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 237,750, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 231,250.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.95%, up from 3.90% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.31%, up from 3.24%.

Thursday, the Dow gained 187.08 points (0.80%) to finish at 23,458.36, the NASDAQ closed 87.08 points (1.30%) higher at 6,793.29, and the S&P 500 was up 21.02 points (0.825) at 2,585.64. The Russell 2000 increased 22.79 points (1.56%) to 1,486.88, and the Wilshire 5000 climbed 268.42 points (1.01%) to 26,850.88.

The yield for the 10-year Treasury note was 2.359. The yield for the 30-year Treasury bond was 2.799%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1800, the U.S. Congress held its first session in Washington, D.C., in the partially completed Capitol building. In 1869, the Suez Canal opened in Egypt, linking the Mediterranean and the Red seas. In 1913, the steamship Louise became the first ship to travel through the Panama Canal. In 1962, Washington’s Dulles International Airport was dedicated by U.S. President Kennedy. In 1979, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini ordered the release of 13 female and black American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. In 1982, the Empire State Building was added to the National Register of Historical Places. In 1997, Mario Lemieux was voted into the NHL Hall of Fame. In 2001, “Toys “R” Us Times Square – The Center of the Toy Universe” opened in New York City.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Seathwaite, UK, a tractor carrying a big sheep trailer came across a road lined with parked cars on both sides. The driver couldn’t get through and couldn’t turn around, but he decided to go for it anyway, damaging at least four cars. Police are still looking for the tractor driver.

In Bolton, Connecticut, an election for the governing board of the town resulted in a tie. Both the Republican incumbent and the Democratic challenger received 718 votes. According to the Associated Press, the town charter says tied elections can be decided by a special election or a coin toss. Each candidate chose the coin toss to save the town the cost of a special election. The incumbent won.

In Vero Beach, Florida, a resident told deputies he and this three young sons woke up to a man yelling, howling and walking down the road around 6 a.m. one morning recently. Two hours later, they woke up again after hearing the man stomping on the roof of their home. The man claimed he was having a meeting with a DEA agent on the roof, but admitted to not knowing who the agent is, according to an arrest report. The local NBC News station reported that (surprise!) the man was found to be under the influence of an il.legal drug.

Have a great weekend!