* The number of Americans registering first-time...

* The number of Americans registering first-time claims for state unemployment funds fell by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 289,000 for the week ended March 20, from an upwardly revised 299,000 the week before, the Labor Department said. This eighth straight week of claims under 300,000 is the longest run of claims under this level since July 22, 1972, through Dec. 15, 1973. The four-week moving average of new jobless claims, which smooths out weekly claims fluctuations to give a better indication of jobless trends, fell to 292,000 from a revised 293,000 in the prior week.