Existing-home sales rebounded strongly in September following August’s decline and have now increased year-over-year for 12 consecutive months, according to the National Association of Realtors. All four major regions experienced sales gains in September. Total existing–home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co–ops, increased 4.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.55 million in September from a slightly downwardly revised 5.30 million in August, and are now 8.8% above a year ago (5.10 million).

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.79%, down from 3.82% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 2.98%, down from 3.03%.

In the week ending October 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 259,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised level, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 263,250, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since December 15, 1973, when it was 256,750.

Strong earnings reports led major U.S. stock indices higher Thursday. The Dow climbed 320.55 points (1.87%) to 17,489.16, the NASDAQ closed 79.93 points (1.65%) higher at 4,920.05, and the S&P 500 increased 33.57 points (1.66%) to 2,052.51. The Russell 2000 was up 9.58 points (0.84%) at 1,154.52, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 301.29 points (1.43%) to finish at 21,394.53.

On the NYSE, 3.2 billion shares traded, with a near 3 to1 lead for advancers. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares changed hands, with 1.7 advancing issues for every declining issue.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 1/32, decreasing its yield to 2.023%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 3/32, bringing its yield down to 2.862%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1864, during the U.S. Civil War, Union forces led by Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated the Confederate forces in Missouri that were under Gen. Stirling Price. In 1929, in the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged, starting the stock-market crash that began the Great Depression. In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York for the first time. In 1956, NBC broadcasted the first videotape recording. The tape of Jonathan Winters was seen coast to coast in the U.S. In 1958, Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. He was forced to refuse the honor due to negative Soviet reaction. Pasternak won the award for writing “Dr. Zhivago.” In 1973, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon agreed to turn over the subpoenaed tapes concerning the Watergate affair.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Norway, the state of Texas has a big reputation. The phrase “helt Texas” is being used widely on social media and in the media to describe such things as sporting events, biologists’ findings and store deals. Rawstory.com says Norwegians explain that “Texas” means mayhem and chaos, as in cowboys finding and shooting guns into the air. “Helt Texas” means “completely crazy.”

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, a toddler asked for a CVS-themed party for her fourth birthday. Her mom says the little girl sees the local CVS store as a wonderland of “snacks, drinks, toys, Chap-stick, and Band-aids,” so much so that she puts the drug store on par with Disney World in terms of dream locations, according to UPI. When CVS headquarters heard about this, they sent snacks, party supplies and party favors, such as CVS-brand water bottles. The local CVS flashed a “Happy Birthday” on its sign out front.

In Conyers, Georgia, police were called to the scene of an accident at a Kroger grocery store. There they found a disheveled man in a motorized wheelchair backing into the building and over plants. The wheelchair had been hit by an SUV. The man in the wheelchair told police he had taken Val.ium, an anti-pressant and a pint of alco.hol. He was cited for DU.I. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia law says it’s illegal to operate “any moving vehicle” while under the influence of alc.ohol or drugs.

In Buffalo, New York, a woman who turned 100-years-old in August continues to work 11 hours a day, six days a week at a laundromat. She tells WGRZ-TV that she got her first job at 15 during the Great Depression and has been working ever since. She told the FOX news station she likes being out and working because it “gives her something to do.” She says too many people retire too soon. Her advice to her peers: “Get out and do some work.”

In Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England, a Neighborhood Watch co-ordinator left her house to attend a Neighborhood Watch meeting at a local fire station. She returned home to find police there. Ironically, while she had been at the Neighborhood Watch meeting, a burglar entered her house through the unlocked front door and stole money from her purse. The intruder was interrupted by the co-ordinator’s spouse, and fled the scene, according to the Shepton Mallet Journal.