National Business

TORONTO — Higher crude and gold prices couldn't help Canada's main stock index from sinking to start the trading week as heightened COVID-19 fears continued to grip investors.

MONTREAL — A $1-billion deal to combine two Montreal companies with West African gold mining operations was met with sharply divergent reactions from their shareholders on Monday. Stock in Endeavour Mining Corp. closed at $20.05, down $1.60 or 7.

TORONTO — Cole Miller has spent most of his days since 2017 excited about the launch of the Basecamp cannabidiol iced tea he was crafting, but as he visited Ontario cannabis retailers to encourage them to up the number of cases they would stock for i

TORONTO — The company that runs the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange is moving to loosen some rules to help listed companies as they deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. TMX Group Ltd.

Canadian airports are confronting the prospect of $2 billion in losses over the next few months as borders shut and planes stay parked due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas & Electric will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for a swath of death and destruction left behind after its fraying electrical grid ignited a 2018 wildfire that decimated three Northern California

TORONTO — Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is cutting back operations at its recently purchased Detour Lake Mine in northern Ontario to protect employees and their communities from the COVID-19 virus.

Mountain Equipment Co-Op and Cineplex Inc. have laid off thousands of employees as the companies closed stores and theatres as instructed by various governments in an effort to stem the transmission of COVID-19.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve is unleashing its boldest effort yet to protect the U.S. economy from the coronavirus by helping companies and governments pay their bills and survive a devastating crisis.

TORONTO — The Toronto Regional and Ontario real estate boards have urged realtors to stop holding open houses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, following a similar move by the Greater Vancouver Area board last week.