National Business

OTTAWA — Retail sales dropped 0.4 per cent to $69.3 billion in February as sales fell at new car dealers, Statistics Canada said Friday. However, the agency said its early estimate for March suggested an increase of 0.

TOKYO (AP) — The first foreigner tapped to head 7-Eleven expressed confidence Friday the Japanese convenience store chain will continue to attract thrifty customers, even in an economic slowdown.

ST. JOHN'S — New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador are the latest provinces to pledge to work together and knock down trade barriers as Canada faces economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

CALGARY — Precision Drilling is trimming its planned 2025 capital spending due to market uncertainty and a possible dip in demand from the oil and gas producers that contract its rigs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s rally kept rolling Thursday as better-than-expected profits for U.S. companies piled up, though CEOs said they’re unsure whether it will last because of uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s trade war.

TORONTO — Hudson's Bay can now prepare to auction off 4,400 artifacts and art pieces along with the 355-year-old royal charter that launched the now-ailing company.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rose more than 250 points in a broad-based rally led by base metals, while U.S. stock markets also climbed to close out a third straight day of gains. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 254.

Even as Hudson's Bay was granted court permission to auction off 1,700 pieces of art and more than 2,700 artifacts, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is requesting a halt to the sale of items that may belong to or be linked with First Nations people.

FT SASKATCHEWAN — Dow Inc. says it is delaying construction of a nearly $9 billion net-zero petrochemical project northeast of Edmonton because of expected weak market conditions.

MONTREAL — Tariff angst has forced TFI International Inc. to back off big acquisitions as the trucking industry confronts lower cargo volumes, its CEO said Thursday.