National Business

MONTREAL — A number of business groups and financial institutions say they want to play a role in promoting biodiversity and hope a new UN biodiversity treaty will require some companies to disclose their impacts.

Canada's main stock index edged downwards and U.S. markets ticked slightly higher on what was overall a quiet day of trading Thursday. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 4.03 points at 19,969.19.

The Bank of Canada's steep rate hike cycle could be coming to an end, but don't expect rates to start going back down any time soon.

NEW YORK — Stocks closed higher on Wall Street but remain lower for the week after five straight losses. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% Thursday and the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 1.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%. U.S.

TORONTO — Canada's most prominent banks and insurers say they are sticking with the virtual or hybrid annual general meetings they adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic for another year.

OTTAWA — Canada's telecommunications regulator refused a request from Telus Corp. to charge some customers a credit card processing fee.

TORONTO — Drivers hoping for cheaper gas can fill up after the price at the pump across Canada dropped on Thursday to an average 143 cents per litre.

Cineplex Inc. has opened the first of its new theatre, dining and entertainment complexes called Junxion. The Toronto-based theatre operator's first location is at Kildonan Place, a Winnipeg mall that was home to a Famous Players cinema.

CALGARY — The Canada Energy Regulator has issued financial penalties against Trans Mountain Corp. related to the 2020 death of a worker.

TORONTO — Canada's financial regulator is raising the amount of capital major banks need to have on hand over concerns of high household debt levels and other elevated systemic vulnerabilities.