National Business

Lowe's Companies Inc. said Wednesday it will close 34 "underperforming" stores across six provinces as part of a restructuring of its Canadian business, raising hackles in Quebec over the fate of local hardware mainstay Rona.

Metro Inc. plans to roughly double the number stores with self checkouts during its 2020 financial year as the industry contends with a tight labour market.

CALGARY — The Forest Products Association of Canada says a chronic shortage of truck drivers is compounding concerns about the impact of a strike at Canadian National Railway Co.

CALGARY — The CEO of Encana Corp. is firing back after Canadian investment manager Letko, Brosseau & Associates Inc. said it would vote its four per cent stake against the Calgary-based company's planned headquarters move to Denver.

OTTAWA — The annual pace of inflation held steady for the third month in a row in October as the consumer price index rose 1.9 per cent compared with a year ago, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index was up slightly in late-morning trading as energy and cannabis stocks rose while financial and materials stocks dipped. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 11.94 points at 17,023.34.

CALGARY — Pembina Pipeline Corp. says the Canadian Competition Bureau has signed off on its $4.3-billion deal to buy assets from Kinder Morgan Inc.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Middle East’s biggest carrier, the Dubai-based Emirates, announced on Wednesday a firm order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in a deal valued at $8.8 billion.

Torstar Corp. said Tuesday it will shutter its StarMetro free newspapers across the country and cut more than 100 jobs while also offering voluntary buyouts to its Toronto Star editorial employees.

NEW YORK — CBS won the television ratings crown last week despite being without the most valuable ratings commodity in this era, a prime-time football game.