National Business

TORONTO — Canadian auto sales fell 19.6 per cent in September from a year earlier as vehicle shortages caused by semiconductor supply issues continue to weigh.

TORONTO — A positive start to October helped North American stock markets to mitigate deep losses for the week as a potential new COVID-19 drug renewed optimism about the recovery. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 80.62 points to 20,150.

CALGARY — After more than a year of bare bones inflight service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians travelling by air can once again enjoy snacks, hot meals or a glass of wine on the plane.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a potential leap forward in the global fight against the pandemic , drugmaker Merck said Friday that its experimental pill for people sick with COVID-19 reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half.

TORONTO — Interac Corp. said Friday that it has secured exclusive rights to SecureKey Technologies Inc.'s digital identification services in Canada as the payments platform looks to push further into online services.

CALGARY — Suncor Energy Inc. says it has assumed operatorship of the Syncrude oilsands project in a bid to improve its performance.

Canadian National Railway Co. has forcefully pushed back against a British-based investor seeking changes at the railway, saying Friday that TCI Fund Management Ltd. had made false and misleading claims and that it has a clear conflict of interest.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. manufacturing growth accelerated last month to the highest level since May despite global supply chain disruptions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer spending accelerated in August amide a surge in COVID-19 cases, even as soaring demand and snarled supply chains kept inflation high. Consumer spending rose 0.8% in August, up from a decline of 0.1% in July.

VAUGHAN, Ont. — Waste management company GFL Environmental Inc. has announced a pair of acquisitions in the United States. Financial terms of the deals were not immediately available.