National Business

CALGARY — The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors is raising its forecast for oil and natural gas drilling following what it said was a robust first quarter due to stronger than expected oil and gas prices.

MARKHAM, Ont. — Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. reported first-quarter profit of $22.6 million, up from $3.4 million a year ago, and raised its full-year revenue outlook.

TORONTO — Wattpad Corp.'s founder says he is stepping away from his chief executive officer role about a year after the company was acquired by a South Korean internet conglomerate.

TORONTO — George Weston Ltd. raised its dividend by 10 per cent as it reported a profit attributable to shareholders in its latest quarter compared with a loss a year ago. The company, which owns large interests in Loblaw Companies Ltd.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain's government fired the director of the country's top intelligence agency Tuesday following the hacking of politicians’ cellphones, including the devices of the prime minister and several supporters of the Catalonia regio

TOKYO (AP) — Sony’s fiscal fourth quarter surged 67% to 111.1 billion yen ($852.7 million) from the previous year, as the Japanese entertainment and electronics company racked up profits in video game and movie divisions. Tokyo-based Sony Corp.

CALGARY — Suncor Energy Inc. says it earned $2.95 billion in the first quarter, up from $821 million in the same period of 2021, as the war in Ukraine and energy supply fears drove oil prices higher.

VICTORIA — Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. has been fined more than $170,000 after inspectors found what the British Columbia government says were repeated issues of erosion and sediment control.

TORONTO — The Competition Bureau has filed an application to block Rogers Communications Inc.'s purchase of Shaw Communications Inc.

VANCOUVER — Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. says its revenues rose in the first quarter compared with a year ago even though the company is struggling to secure used equipment to sell. The Vancouver-based auctioneer, which reports in U.S.