National Business

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit grew to $1.5 billion in January compared with $732 million in December as exports fell. The agency says merchandise exports fell 2 per cent in January to $48.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit grew to $1.5 billion in January compared with $732 million in December as exports fell. The agency says merchandise exports fell 2 per cent in January to $48.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit grew to $1.5 billion in January compared with $732 million in December as exports fell. The agency says merchandise exports fell 2 per cent in January to $48.

OTTAWA — Canada's national unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent in February. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets): — Newfoundland and Labrador 12.0 per cent (11.9) — Prince Edward Island 8.

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent in February. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities.

OTTAWA — A quick look at February employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets): Unemployment rate: 5.6 per cent (5.5) Employment rate: 61.8 per cent (61.8) Participation rate: 65.5 per cent (65.

TOKYO — Asian shares slipped Friday as fears about the virus outbreak once again dominated financial markets. Japan's benchmark Nikkei dived 3.1% to 20,663.32. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 2.1% to 6,259.20. South Korea's Kospi dropped 2.

NEW YORK — Exxon Mobil said Thursday it plans to reduce the number of oil rigs operating in an oil-rich region in the Southwest and may cut planned capital expenditures as the spreading coronavirus saps energy demand.

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates have sunk to a record low, giving many homeowners an opening to refinance their loans to free up money to spend or save. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage hit a record low of 3.29% this week from 3.

The economic affects of the coronavirus have preceded the spread of the virus itself, with financial markets swinging wildly, companies closing offices or asking employees work from home in affected areas, and throttling air travel across the globe.