National Business

WASHINGTON — The spread of COVID-19 vaccines will power a stronger global economic recovery in 2021, the International Monetary Fund forecast Tuesday. After sinking 3.5% in 2020, the worst year since World War II, the global economy will grow 5.

SAN RAMON, Calif.

General Motors has set a goal of making the vast majority of the vehicles it produces electric by 2035, and the entire company carbon neutral, including operations, five years after that.

TORONTO — Rogers Communications Inc.'s isn't providing financial guidance for 2021 amid ongoing uncertainty about COVID-19, which had a big impact last year including its fourth-quarter results released Thursday.

CALGARY — Most of the hundreds of layoffs expected in the wake of Cenovus Energy Inc.'s takeover of rival Husky Energy Inc.

Seattle-based Amazon.com, Inc. has asked federal regulators to block multiple shareholder proposals addressing criticism of company stances on curbing hate speech, diversity in hiring, workplace conditions and surveillance technologies.

WASHINGTON — Stuck in the grip of a viral pandemic, the U.S. economy grew at a 4% annual rate in the final three months of 2020 and shrank last year by the largest amount in 74 years.

CALGARY — The association representing oilfield service companies is boosting its 2021 drilling forecast by 29 per cent thanks to a stronger commodity price outlook.

TORONTO — More rental properties sat empty in 2020, especially in the Greater Toronto Area where the vacancy rate hit a 14-year high, said Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — American whiskey absorbed some setbacks but showed resilience in the face of pandemic-related clampdowns on bars and restaurants as liquor sales benefited from enduring demand for a good stiff drink.