National Business

BEIJING — The prospects for a preliminary breakthrough in the U.S.-China trade war improved Thursday after the two sides agreed to reduce some punitive tariffs on each other's goods, though the full extent of the rollback wasn't clear.

TORONTO — Drake rapped about starting from the bottom, but his new venture in the cannabis industry is certainly a higher business. The Toronto-raised performer has signed an investment partnership to launch More Life Growth Co.

TORONTO — Brightened prospects of a breakthrough in the trade war between the world's two largest economies propelled U.S. stock markets to new record highs and pushed Canada's main index higher Thursday.

Pacific Gas & Electric reported another huge loss on Thursday as the fallout from catastrophic wildfires blamed on its outdated transmission lines drive the bankrupt utility into a deeper hole.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (16,805.75 , up 60.11 points.) Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX:K). Materials. Down 80 cents, or 12.6 per cent, to $5.55 on 10.

NEW YORK — A judge Thursday ordered President Donald Trump to pay $2 million to an array of charities as a fine for misusing his own charitable foundation to further his political and business interests.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says a plan to build a natural gas power station in Moose Jaw is moving ahead.

MONTREAL — Saputo Inc.'s quarterly profit beat analyst expectations, as the company continued to face some challenges in the industry.

TORONTO — Manulife Financial Corp. and Sun Life Financial Corp. say anti-government protests in Hong Kong have not had a large impact on their businesses there.

CALGARY — Shares in Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. jumped by more than seven per cent on Thursday after it reported higher oil production and financial results that beat expectations. The Calgary-based oilsands producer's stock rose as high as $36.