National Business

TORONTO — BMO Financial Group has secured the all-clear from U.S. regulators to close its US$16.3-billion takeover of California-based Bank of the West from BNP Paribas. The deal, expected to close on Feb.

TORONTO — Postmedia is moving a dozen of its Alberta community newspapers to digital-only formats, eyeing more outsourcing deals for printing and laying off workers.

MONTREAL — MTY Food Group Inc. has raised its quarterly dividend as the operator and franchisor of restaurants like Cold Stone Creamery, Manchu Wok and Thai Express continues its post-pandemic rebound.

SASKATOON — The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce is asking the federal competition regulator to investigate Air Canada's decision to end its flights between Saskatoon and Calgary and between Regina and Calgary.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tested positive Wednesday for COVID-19 and is experiencing “mild symptoms," the Federal Reserve announced.

TORONTO — When Marissa McNeelands was hiring a senior artificial intelligence product manager last year, she asked recruiters to suggest an equal number of male and female candidates.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices in the United States rose 6.2% in December from a year earlier, a sixth straight slowdown and a hopeful sign that inflation pressures will continue to cool. The latest year-over-year figure was down from 7.

WASHINGTON — It's become a reliably consistent sideshow in U.S. congressional politics: Democrats and Republicans battling over a self-imposed limit on federal borrowing, a feud that often leads to standoffs and protracted government shutdowns.

CALGARY — A new fund launched in November by the Business Development Bank of Canada to help foster the growth of homegrown climate technology has made its largest investment yet.

SYDNEY (AP) — A Qantas flight traveling from New Zealand to Sydney landed safely after it issued a mayday call over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. Qantas Flight 144 landed at Sydney Airport from Auckland, New Zealand, after a 3.