National Business

TORONTO — Restaurants and bars across Canada are hoping this holiday season could finally spell recovery for the debt-laden sector. But, elevated inflation and a potential recession have them worried that their new normal won’t pay the bills.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,097.01, up 178.61 points): Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY). Financials. Up 62 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $123.88 on 16.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index was up for the third day in a row, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 178.61 points at 19,097.01. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 337.

TORONTO — Ontario's surprise move to increase the tax paid by foreign homebuyers to 25 per cent won't have much effect on the province's already-cooling market, housing industry observers say.

NEW YORK — Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, marking the third straight gain for the S&P 500. The benchmark hadn’t been able to string together more than two gains in a row since mid-September.

Canopy Growth Corp.'s share price surged more than 27 per cent as it announced it will fast track its plans for the U.S. market with the creation of a new U.S.-domiciled company meant to hold its cannabis investments made south of the border.

OTTAWA — As another interest rate hike looms, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is emphasizing the Bank of Canada's independence after criticism from federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

NEW YORK (AP) — By the Nielsen company's count, 7.8 million people watched Amazon Prime's coverage of last Thursday's NFL game between New Orleans and Arizona. But Amazon says no, there were actually 8.9 million people watching.

TORONTO — The group head of HSBC Holdings Plc says the bank is exploring a sale of its Canadian division in part because it's had strong interest from other banks looking to buy it.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union nations on Tuesday gave themselves yet another month to overcome deep differences on groundbreaking measures to shield their citizens from the energy crisis.