National Business

TORONTO — Creators of the freshly minted subscription streaming platform Quibi had a tough sell on their hands even before the COVID-19 pandemic spiralled us into uncertain financial times.

Home sales in the Vancouver region were strong for the first half of March, but started to taper as the COVID-19 outbreak intensified, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver said Thursday.

Andy Hunter, founder of a new online sales outlet for independent booksellers, had seen a crisis building well before the coronavirus pandemic shut down many of the country's stores.

WASHINGTON — More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

NEW YORK — The popcorn will be bring your own and the barbecue won't be as good, but the Austin, Texas, SXSW Film Festival is moving online after having its 27th edition cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic.

TORONTO — The biggest market downturn in more than a decade has rattled nerves and may ultimately force some investors to postpone their approaching retirements, say experts.

TORONTO — When Robert Prichard welcomed shareholders to Bank of Montreal’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, it was the first time the company's board chairman had done so without standing before shareholders in person.

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. hit an all-time record for March grain movement. Chief operating officer Rob Reilly says the 2.62 million tonnes of grain is a 6.1 per cent increase from 2017, the previous record for March.

OTTAWA — Canada's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $983 million in February compared with $1.7 billion in January, as the economic impact of COVID-19 showed some of its first signs with a drop in trade with China.

TORONTO — Canadian mining companies with assets in Mexico moved to suspend operations in the country as the Mexican government ordered non-essential businesses to close in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.