National Business

OTTAWA — Canada merchandise trade surplus grew to $1.9 billion in September compared with $1.5 billion in August as both imports and exports fell due in part to the shortage of semiconductor chips that hurt auto production.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit hit an all-time high of $80.9 billion in September as American exports fell sharply while imports, even with supply chain problems at American ports, continue to climb.

Canadians are emerging from the pandemic with a lack of confidence in their financial knowledge, with many underestimating how much they actually know about topics like savings, debt, investing and insurance, a new poll has found.

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England has confounded market expectations and held U.K.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a fresh pandemic low last week, another sign the job market is healing after last year's coronavirus recession.

TORONTO — Barrick Gold Corp. reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as the price of gold also moved lower. The gold miner, which keeps its books in U.S.

LONDON (AP) — Britain granted conditional authorization on Thursday to the only pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19 so far.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran seized a Vietnamese-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman last month and still holds the vessel, two U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) — If you find the current economy a bit confusing, don’t worry: So does the nation’s top economic official, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. says its shareholders will vote next month on the issuance of shares in connection with its proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern.