mark: from bloomberg world headquarters in new york, i'm mark crumpton. this is "bottom line" the intersection of business and economics with a main street restrictive. -- perspective. to our viewers here in the u.s. and to those of you around the world, welcome. we have full coverage of the stocks and stories making headlines today. education reporter janet lohr looks at the rejection rate or admissions to ivy league schools . agriculture reporter alan bjerga detailed the latest crop report and the continuing doubt it -- drought in the state of california. manus cranny is in paris with highlights of his excuses interview with greek finance minister yanis varoufakis. first, let's get right to the top stories we are following this thursday. a number of americans filing for on a plummet benefits is that a 15-year low. claims averaged 282,000 a week