National Business

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined to 779,000 last week, a still-historically high total that shows that a sizable number of people keep losing jobs to the viral pandemic.

WASHINGTON — U.S. productivity in the October-December quarter fell by the largest amount in 39 years as the coronavirus pandemic roiled the labour market. Productivity dropped at a rate of 4.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, tenants in many parts of the country are witnessing something they haven't seen in years: falling rent prices.

NEW DELHI — It took just one tweet from Rihanna to anger the Indian government and supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party.

CALGARY — Canadian oilsands and refining giant Suncor Energy Inc. is reporting a fourth-quarter net loss of $168 million or 11 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $2.34 billion or $1.52 in the same period of 2019.

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is introducing a new grant program to support small and medium-sized businesses in expanding or pivoting to online sales.

MONTREAL — Investor advisory firm Glass Lewis is recommending Dorel Industries Inc. shareholders vote against a revised proposal to take the company private. The advisory firm calls the amended proposal price pump to $16 per share from $14.

MONTREAL — Stingray Group Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $14.1 million, which grew from a profit of $8.1 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

General Motors said its CAMI plant in Ontario will be idle for a week as a worldwide shortage of computer chips plagues the auto industry. The measure affects all shifts next week in the plant in Ingersoll, Ont.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index moved higher for a third-straight day as the energy sector got a lift from crude oil prices hitting their highest level in a year. The March crude oil contract was up 93 cents at US$55.