BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Automakers expand military discounts

DETROIT

Chevrolet, Buick and GMC will celebrate Independence Day by extending their expanded military discount programs for all 21 million U.S. military veterans and their spouses through next Friday.

GM’s program is typically available to U.S. military veterans within one year of separation, active-duty personnel, reservists, retirees and their spouses. In honor of National Military Appreciation Month in May, the program expanded to include all veterans – regardless of their separation date – and their spouses.

The discount is available for popular models, including the all-new Chevrolet Malibu, GMC Sierra and Buick Encore. For details, visit gmmilitarydiscount.com.

Tesla driver killed in crash while using car’s ‘Autopilot’

WASHINGTON

The first U.S. fatality using self-driving technology took place in May when the driver of a Tesla S sports car operating the vehicle’s “Autopilot” automated driving system died after a collision with a truck in Florida, federal officials said Thursday.

The government is investigating the design and performance of Tesla’s system.

Preliminary reports indicate the crash occurred when a tractor-trailer rig made a left turn in front of the Tesla at an intersection of a divided highway where there was no traffic light, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The Tesla driver died due to injuries sustained in the crash, which took place May 7 in Williston, Fla., the agency said. The city is southwest of Gainesville.

Tesla said on its website that neither the driver nor the Autopilot noticed the white side of the trailer, which was perpendicular to the Model S, against the brightly lit sky, and neither applied the brakes.

Average 30-year mortgage falls to 3.48 percent

WASHINGTON

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates slid to new lows for the year this week amid market upheaval stoked by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. Rates are at three-year lows at the height of the spring home-buying season.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.48 percent from 3.56 percent last week. The benchmark rate is down sharply from 4.08 percent a year ago, and close to its all-time low of 3.31 percent in November 2012.

The average for the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 2.78 percent from 2.83 percent last week.

Claims for unemployment benefits rise

WASHINGTON

More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but the level of jobless claims remains low enough to suggest that most workers enjoy job security.

The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly U.S. applications rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 268,000 in the week that ended June 25. The four-week average, which is less volatile, was unchanged at 267,000.

Wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Alcoa Inc., .129.27.17

Aqua America, .71 35.66 .88

Avalon Holdings,2.33.07

Cortland Bancorp, .2815.00.00

Farmers Nat., .168.80 .00

First Energy, 1.44 34.91.72

Fifth/Third, .5217.59.47

FirstMerit Corp., .6820.27 .82

First Niles Financial, .128.75.00

FNB Corp., .4812.54.28

General Motors, 1.5228.30.13

General Electric, .9231.48.93

Huntington Bank, .28 8.94.43

iHeartMedia Inc.,1.30 .00

JP Morgan Chase, 1.9262.14.94

Key Corp, .3411.05.23

LaFarge, .3417.57 .00

Macy’s, 1.51 33.61.29

Parker Hannifin, 2.52 108.053.99

PNC, 2.0481.391.05

Simon Prop. Grp., 6.40216.901.97

Stoneridge 14.94 .14

Talmer Bank, .20 19.17.41

United Comm. Fin., .10 6.08.14

Selected prices from Thursday’s 4 p.m. close.