National Business

TORONTO — Markets in Canada and the U.S. closed slightly down Wednesday following two days of optimism at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

TORONTO — Home sales plummeted in the region of Canada's largest city last month, down 44 per cent from last September and 10 per cent from the previous month at a time when the typically busy fall real estate season is usually getting started.

NEW YORK — Stocks ended slightly lower on Wall Street as a gangbuster two-day rally ran out of gas. The S&P 500 ended 0.2% lower Wednesday after briefly heading into the green late in the day.

Shopify Inc. and a group of textbook publishers, which accused the tech company of profiting from content that is pirated or infringes on their trademarks, have asked a U.S. court to dismiss the case.

WASHINGTON — A prominent New York senator is joining the ranks of American lawmakers who want the White House to end vaccination rules at the Canada-U.S. land border. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Newfoundland and Labrador government is offering residents one-time payments of up to $500 in an effort to offset high inflation and soaring costs of living.

Gasoline prices in Canada continue to creep higher ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend. According to retail fuel price tracking website GasBuddy.com, the national average price for regular gasoline as of midday Wednesday was 167.

TORONTO — Canadians may see a jump in businesses adding credit card surcharges as restrictions on the practice lift this week, though research from the Bank of Canada shows consumers have long been paying extra because of the payment option.

SUDBURY, Ont. — Ontario's Superior Court of Justice has approved Laurentian University's restructuring plan as the school looks to emerge from creditor protection. The Sudbury, Ont.

MONTREAL — The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers says Montreal's September home sales dropped to their lowest level in almost 10 years as the market continued to cool.