National Business

MARKHAM, Ont. — York Region public health said Wednesday that lab results are expected at the end of this week to confirm the presence of a plant-based toxin in a spice that is suspected of sickening 12 diners at a Markham, Ont.

LAVAL, Que. — Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. says higher fuel and food costs are affecting customer driving and shopping habits while boosting sales of its private label brand.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,330.81, down 182.09 points.) Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Down 68 cents, or 1.58 per cent, to $42.49 on 23.

CALGARY — Imperial Oil Ltd. says it and ExxonMobil Canada have closed the $1.9-billion sale of their oil and gas-producing assets in the Montney and Duvernay areas to Whitecap Resources Inc.

Canada’s main stock index declined for a fourth straight trading session Wednesday to end the month of August with investor sentiment squarely in the risk-off camp. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 182.09 points at 19,330.81.

MONTREAL — Laurentian Bank of Canada shares closed down more than 10 per cent Wednesday as the bank reported a drop in quarterly earnings caused by provisions for bad loans, while lower margins on interest income and a drop in personal loans also wei

TORONTO — Canada's biggest banks could be pushed out of a UN-backed, net-zero emissions coalition if they don't boost their climate commitments, a report released Wednesday by Greenpeace Canada says.

OTTAWA — Economists expect the Bank of Canada to move forward with another aggressive interest rate hike next week after the release of data showing the economy remained in relatively good shape during the second quarter of the year.

TORONTO — As Rogers Communications Inc. aims to close its $26-billion proposed takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. by the end of this year, one telecom watcher says the process could drag on into mid-2023.

OTTAWA — As the Bank of Canada tries to reign in red hot inflation, the central bank is engaging in another fight: one against misinformation.