National Business

The U.S. labor market continues to flex its muscle as applications for jobless claims fell again last week and remain at healthy levels in the face of high interest rates and inflation.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden rattled off an impressive list of economic wins Wednesday to mark one full year of "transformative" climate spending that's better known among critics in Canada and overseas than it is by voters in the United States.

OTTAWA — Canadians are missing out on major tourism revenue from Chinese visitors as Beijing leaves Canada off its list of approved travel destinations — a move that it is linking directly to Ottawa's recent focus on alleged foreign interference.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,899.07, down 0.72 points): Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB). Energy. Down two cents, or 0.04 per cent, to $46.84 on 15.5 million shares.

TORONTO — Strength in the energy sector helped buoy Canada's main stock index to close flat on Wednesday while U.S. markets moved lower. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down less than one point at 19,899.07.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's electric utility has been fined $750,000 for failing to meet 2022 performance targets set by the provincial regulator.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Federal Reserve officials last month still regarded high inflation as an ongoing threat that could require further interest rate increases, according to the minutes of their July 25-26 meeting released Wednesday.

CALGARY — A Canadian company that is pioneering the use of direct air capture technology to remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere has been acquired by U.S. oil company Occidental Petroleum. The US$1.1-billion deal will see Squamish, B.C.

NEW YORK (AP) — Some Bank of Ireland customers were able to withdraw money they did not have Tuesday and early Wednesday after an hours-long technical glitch that also halted many of the bank's online services.

Bus maker NFI Group Inc. plans to ramp up production after being hard-hit by supply chain issues during the pandemic, saying it could reach 2019 output levels in two years.