New orders for manufactured durable goods in July, up two consecutive months, increased $5.0 billion or 2.0% to $250.2 billion, down from the previously published 2.1% increase, the Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.8% June increase. Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, drove the increase, $5.7 billion or 7.0% to $86.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.0 billion or 0.8% to $250.1 billion.

In the week ending August 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 217,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 216,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 216,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 214,750.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.49%, down from 3.58% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3%, down from 3.06%.

Thursday, the Dow gained 372.68 points (1.41%) to finish at 26,728.15, the NASDAQ closed 139.95 points (1.75%) higher at 8,116.83, and the S&P 500 increased 38.22 points (1.30%) to 2,976.00. The Russell 2000 was up 25.99 points (1.75%) at 1,510.74, and the Wilshire 5000 climbed 392.95 points (1.31%) to 30,407.25.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note decreased 31/32, bringing its yield up to 1.566%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond fell 1 31/32, increasing its yield to 2.054%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1620, the Pilgrims left on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to settle in the New World. In 1899, Carnation processed its first can of evaporated milk. In 1901, President William McKinley was shot and mortally wounded (he died eight days later) by Leon Czolgosz, an American anarchist. In 1909, Robert Peary, American explorer, sent word that he had reached the North Pole. He had reached his goal five months earlier. In 1978, James Wickwire and Louis Reichardt reached the top of the world’s second largest mountain, Pakistan’s K-2. They were the first Americans to reach the summit. In 1991, the name St. Petersburg was restored to Russia’s second largest city. The city was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great. The name has been changed to Petrograd (1914) and to Leningrad (1924). In 1992, a 35-year old man died ten weeks after receiving a transplanted baboon liver. In 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) would be placed in government conservatorship.

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Orange, Vermont, about 250 pigs escaped their enclosure and so far are costing a farmer $81,955. Most of the pigs were lured back to the farm by farm workers and volunteers using hot dog buns. However, “The pigs have been allowed and remain to be allowed in the town right of way so cars are unable to pass, people can’t walk on the road because the pigs chase them,” said Town Clerk Angela Eastman, according to the Associated Press. A town official checks daily, counting and taking photos of the animals. The fine is based on the number of pigs in the right-of way.

In New Smyrna Beach, Florida, most surfers like to catch air, but one was unlucky in his landing. A man flew into the air off his last wave of the day and unfortunately landed on top of a 6-foot-plus shark. The shark bit four fingers of his left hand and his left calf and shin. The Huffington Post reports the injuries were not life threatening.

In Nashville, Tennessee, exorcists advised a Catholic school priest to ban Harry Potter books, over fears the popular children’s novels could be used to summon spirits. “The curses and spells used in the books are actual curses and spells; which when read by a human being risk conjuring evil spirits into the presence of the person reading the text,” the reverend said in an email obtained by local media. Rebecca Hammel, the superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville, told the newspaper The Tennessean that Reehil had “canonical authority to make such decisions.”

In Jacksonville, Florida, it started as a light-hearted challenge between a Florida couple, but the husband parked his smart car in his kitchen to protect it from Hurricane Dorian because he didn’t want it to “blow away” and to prove that he can park his car there. According to the Associated Press, the wife said her car was already parked in the garage, and to avoid cleaning it out, her husband proposed to park his car in the house. “I’m hoping he will pull it out pretty soon once the wind dies down,” she said. “There is room and it’s not in the way, but my dogs are confused by it.”

In Big Sky, Montana, a hotel had an unwanted guest sleeping across the sinks in a ladies’ bathroom. Buck’s T-4 Lodge shared a video of a young black bear entering the bathroom through a window. According to the Huffington Post, despite efforts to allow the bear to leave on, he opted to kick back and nap across the countertop Eventually, a team of police and wildlife officers was able to give the bear a tranquilizer and carry it out to be released in a more remote area.

Have a great weekend!