National Business

TORONTO — The "meme stock" phenomenon of early 2021, which saw social media-based investors push back against Wall Street by piling into stocks such as GameStop and BlackBerry, gave Marius Zoican an idea.

Grocery stores are struggling with rising labour and product shortages that could threaten Canada's food security, experts say.

TORONTO — A new report is highlighting the need for more skills development in sustainable finance to meet the expected growth in demand as regulatory and stakeholder pressures increase.

Microsoft is paying nearly $70 billion for Activision Blizzard, the maker of “Candy Crush’’ and ‘’Call of Duty,’’ as it seeks an edge in the fiercely competitive businesses of mobile gaming and virtual-reality technology. The all-cash $68.

TORONTO — Bic is buying Inkbox, a Toronto-based temporary tattoo company, for US$65 million. The stationery and shaver giant says Inkbox will broaden its portfolio, which already includes BodyMark temporary tattoo markers.

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in December fell 22 per cent when compared with November.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday appear to show the aftermath of a fatal attack on an oil facility in the capital of the United Arab Emirates claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

MONTREAL — MTY Food Group Inc. is raising its quarterly dividend. The franchisor and operator of restaurants says it will now pay a quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share on Feb. 15 to shareholders of record on Feb. 3.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Roberta Metsola, a Christian Democrat from Malta, was elected president of the European Union’s parliament Tuesday, putting women in three of the four biggest jobs in the 27-nation bloc.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities said Tuesday that they will cull some 2,000 hamsters after several of the rodents tested positive for the virus at a pet store where an infected employee was working.