National Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week , the Labor Department said Thursday, a sign that companies aren’t cutting many jobs.

Consumers appear to be slightly more satisfied with the financial advice and guidance they received from their banks compared with last year, a new J.D. Power survey shows.

TORONTO — If mistakes artificial intelligence make have you doubting it can't ever rival humans, one of the technology's pioneers says think again.

NEW YORK (AP) — Denis Villeneuve is going from “Dune” to Bond. AmazonMGM announced Wednesday that Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps , a residential program for low-income youth, until a lawsuit against the move is resolved.

EDMONTON — Two members of Alberta's new $2-million panel fighting federal overreach say they aren't responsible for the messaging and ideas on the panel's website, including a suggestion to end social supports for some newcomers.

LAVAL — Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. says it earned US$442.3 million during the fourth quarter, down from US$454.5 million during the same quarter last year. The Laval, Que.-based company, which keeps its books in U.S.

If pipeline companies are keen on proposing a new West Coast pipeline in the near future, they're not saying so publicly.

TORONTO — French sporting goods retailer Decathlon says it is closing its five Greater Toronto Area stores this summer. The locations slated for shutdown are in Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough and Vaughan.

The deal comes after almost a year of negotiations.