In the week ending November 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 214,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 215,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 213,750, a decrease of 250 from the previous week’s revised average of 214,000.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.94%, up from 4.83% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.33%, up from 4.23%.

Thursday, the Dow was up 10.92 points (0.04%) at 26,191.22, the NASDAQ lost 39.87 points (0.53%) to finish at 7,530.89, and the S&P 500 decreased 7.06 points (0.25%) to 2,806.83. The Russell 2000 was down 3.95 points (0.25%) at 1,578.21, and the Wilshire 5000 closed 89.14 points (0.31%) lower at 28,962.56.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was down 2/32, increasing its yield to 3.244%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond decreased 4/32, bringing its yield up to 3.436%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1857, the “Atlantic Monthly” first appeared on newsstands. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt left for Panama to see the progress on the new canal. It was the first foreign trip by a U.S. president. In 1935, United Mine Workers President John L. Lewis and other labor leaders formed the Committee for Industrial Organization. In 1961, the Professional Golfer’s (PGA) eliminated its “caucasians only” rule. In 1965, the great Northeast blackout occurred as several states and parts of Canada were hit by a series of power failures lasting up to 13 1/2 hours. In 1976, the U.N. General Assembly approved ten resolutions condemning the apartheid government in South Africa. In 1979, the United Nations Security Council unanimously called upon Iran to release all American hostages “without delay.” Militants, mostly students, had taken 63 Americans hostage at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, on November 4. In 1982, Sugar Ray Leonard retired from boxing. In 1989, Communist East Germany opened its borders, allowing its citizens to travel freely to West Germany. In 1990, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed a non-aggression treaty with Germany. In 2004, First Lady Laura Bush officially reopened Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to pedestrians.

Sorry, no FRIDAY FILES this week.