In brief: Automakers in Japan expand air bag recall

TOKYO – Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi announced more recalls for the same possibly defective Takata air bags that Toyota recalled earlier this month after one exploded during scrapping in Japan.

Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it’s recalling the Presage, X-Trail and other models totaling 83,000 vehicles in Japan, some 6,000 in China, another 49,000 in Europe and 14,000 in other regions. In the U.S., the company will recall certain 2003 and 2004 Pathfinder SUVs and 2004 Sentra compact cars.

The recall by Nissan and other Japanese automakers is meant to address possible problems with passenger side air bags.

Honda Motor Co. is recalling 400,000 vehicles worldwide for the Fit, Stream, CR-V and other models. That includes 175,000 in Japan; 6,000 in North America, excluding the U.S. where a recall has already been carried out; 16,000 in South America; 100,000 in Europe; 70,000 in Asia and 30,000 in other regions.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. recalled 300 Lancer cars in Japan. Mitsubishi said the comparable recall has already been carried out in the U.S.

LendingClub shares soar in stock market debut

NEW YORK – Shares of online lender LendingClub soared 56 percent in their stock market debut Thursday.

San Francisco-based LendingClub makes personal and small-business loans by connecting borrowers with investors.

Its shares rose $8.43 to close at $23.43 Thursday after trading as high as $25.44 earlier.

LendingClub Corp. raised $870 million by offering 58 million shares at $15 per share. Its stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LC.”

Fewer U.S. workers seek unemployment benefits

WASHINGTON – Fewer people sought U.S. unemployment benefits last week, as the continued low levels of applicants reflect growing job security.

The Labor Department said weekly applications fell 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 294,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, ticked up a slight 250 to 299,250.

Over the past 12 months, the four-week average has plunged 10 percent.

Weekly applications have been under 300,000 for 12 of the past 13 weeks, a historically low level indicating that employers foresee continued economic growth. Still, analysts noted that the number of people collecting benefits jumped 142,000 in the last week of November to 2.51 million, the largest weekly increase in two years.

Mortgage rates edge up, but still at historic lows

WASHINGTON – Average U.S. long-term mortgage rates edged higher this week after four weeks of declines, but they remained at historically low levels that could entice potential homebuyers.

Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday that the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage rose to 3.93 percent this week from 3.89 percent last week. It is now at its lowest level since June 2013.

Rates are about a half-point lower than at the beginning of the year, when the benchmark 30-year rate stood at 4.53 percent.