National Business

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index eked out a gain Thursday as base metals helped offset weakness in energy, while U.S. markets rose. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 4.30 points at 20,278.51. Big technology stocks helped lift U.S.

CALGARY — Canada's oil and gas industry is warning that Ottawa's emissions cap framework could result in significant production curtailments by companies and higher energy prices for consumers.

Laurentian Bank of Canada said Thursday it was cutting staff and revamping its strategic plan as it works to move past a major system outage in September and the subsequent ousting of its chief executive.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street closed higher following its first three-day losing streak since Halloween. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% Thursday and continued to hang near its highest level since March 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.

OTTAWA — The recent surge in newcomers is adding to inflation through housing demand, a senior Bank of Canada official said Thursday, warning rental and home prices could continue to rise without a boost to housing supply.

TORONTO — A new survey suggests a little more than half of potential first-time homebuyers are interested in using a first home savings account, even though they don't know much about it.

The federal and Quebec agriculture and food ministers are calling on all members of the grocery industry supply chain to sign onto a code of conduct.

OTTAWA — A holiday spending plan is always a good idea, but as inflation pushes the cost of everything up and higher interest rates squeeze households, a budget is more important than ever.

U.S. applications for jobless benefits ticked up last week, but the overall number of people in the U.S. collecting unemployment benefits fell after hitting its highest level in two years last week.

TORONTO — Insurance company Intact Financial Corp. says its Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd. subsidiary has signed a deal to sell its U.K. home and pet insurance business to Admiral Group.