National Business

TORONTO — Strength in energy stocks helped Canada's main stock index eke out a small gain Thursday, while U.S. markets moved lower, led by weakness on the Nasdaq. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 57.20 points at 19,587.41.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell on Wall Street as the pressure cranked higher from the bond market again. The S&P 500 lost 0.8% Thursday. The Dow fell 220 points, and the Nasdaq composite gave back 0.9%.

STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — A contractor working for the federal Fisheries Department in Newfoundland and Labrador is accused of accepting bribes of seafood.

MONTREAL — Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau has apologized for the airline's accessibility shortfalls and announced new measures to improve the travel experience for hundreds of thousands of passengers living with a disability.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested Thursday that the Fed is in no hurry to further raise its benchmark interest rate, given evidence that inflation pressures are continuing to ease at a gradual pace.

TORONTO — Canada’s largest movie chain had plenty of reasons to celebrate on Thursday. On top of Cineplex Inc.

Quebecor Inc.'s purchase of Freedom Mobile earlier this year continues to drive growth as it works to solidify itself as Canada's fourth national carrier, chief executive Pierre Karl Péladeau said Thursday.

CALGARY — Suncor Energy Inc. says it has wrapped 1,500 job cuts two months ahead of schedule, but that it will continue to look for areas to trim as part of a wider efficiency push.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Thursday, for the first time in more than six months, neither Hollywood's actors nor its writers will be on strike.

TORONTO — Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. has cut about three per cent of its workforce in its fourth quarter as tougher economic times weigh on consumer's willingness to spend.