National Business

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index lost almost 300 points Tuesday in a broad-based decline led by energy and base metals, while U.S. markets also slid ahead of the central bank's upcoming interest rate decision.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed out their ugly April with even more losses, cementing the market’s worst month since September. The S&P 500 fell 1.6% Tuesday to pull it further from its record set at the end of March.

Unifor has achieved an "important victory" after grocery workers at 11 Loblaw-owned Dominion stores in Newfoundland ratified a new deal Monday, a labour expert said.

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia judge received good news Tuesday during an update on the proposed sale of SaltWire Network Inc. and The Halifax Herald Ltd., two financially troubled companies that operate Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain.

MONTREAL — Air Canada has pressed pause on a new seat selection fee just two days after it implemented the policy, but not before drawing the ire of some travellers online.

The Alberta government is helping fund what it says is Canada's first test site for geothermal energy drilling techniques. Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz says the province will spend $750,000 to help fund a feasibility study on the project.

TORONTO — Employees at airline caterer Gate Gourmet have voted in favour of a tentative deal with management, putting them back on the job Tuesday.

TORONTO — As Tim Hortons and Burger King's parent company saw its profit rise 18 per cent in its latest quarter, its chief executive noticed a broader trend taking hold across the industry: slowing sales. Restaurant Brands International Inc.

OTTAWA — The Canadian economy lost momentum after a roaring start to the year, reinforcing economists' expectations that the Bank of Canada is on track to cut interest rates in the coming months.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scammers stole more than $3.