National Business

OTTAWA — The Canadian economy grew 0.7 per cent in January in the face of severe public health restrictions, and appears to have grown almost as much in February, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

OTTAWA — Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says different groups of Canadians experience price increases uniquely, and that the central bank will keep that in mind as it decides on a policy framework for the next five years.

Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall.

LONDON — Shares of app-based meal delivery service Deliveroo, which saw its business boosted by pandemic lockdowns, tumbled by as much as a third in their U.K. stock market debut on Wednesday.

CALGARY — The chairman and CEO of Bonterra Energy Corp. says he's relieved that rival Obsidian Energy Ltd. ended its hostile takeover campaign this week after seven months of trying to persuade investors to accept a share-swap deal.

MONTREAL — Dollarama Inc. remained bullish on the future of the discount chain in Canada even as its profits slipped amid higher costs and restrictions related to the pandemic in its latest quarter.

LAVAL, Que. — Bausch Health Companies Inc. has signed a deal to sell its interest in Amoun Pharmaceutical Company SAE to Abu-Dhabi-based holding company ADQ for US$740 million. Amoun is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Egypt.

STOCKHOLM — Low-cost fashion brand Hennes & Mauritz AB on Wednesday reported an expected loss in the first quarter.

Delta Air Lines, the last U.S. airline still blocking middle seats, will end that policy in May as air travel recovers and more people become vaccinated against COVID-19.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the Canadian tourism sector shrank by nearly half in 2020 as the disastrous year was capped off by a 3.3 per cent decrease in the fourth quarter.