National Business

The new year began with a whimper on its first trading day, but many investors remain hopeful that 2024 will bring modest gains for stock markets as well as the beginning of interest rate relief. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 86.

CALGARY — The Calgary Real Estate Board says the city saw 1,366 home sales in December, a 13.

DETROIT (AP) — Steep price cuts helped electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. increase its fourth-quarter vehicle sales by almost 20% as EV sales growth slowed across the industry.

TORONTO — Canadians who have missed being able to buy blueberry fritters, cinnamon sugar twists and walnut crunch doughnuts at Tim Hortons are in luck.

TORONTO — Tim Hortons is considered part of the fabric of Canada, but long before the chain became synonymous with the country, it had humble beginnings as a coffee and doughnut shop.

TORONTO — Gold miner Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. has acquired a minority stake in Canada Nickel Co. Ltd. in what it says is an early stage investment in the growing critical minerals sector. Under the deal, Agnico Eagle says it has bought 19.

WINNIPEG — Great-West Lifeco Inc. says it has closed the sale of Putnam Investments. The company first announced the deal to sell the business to Franklin Resources Inc., which operates as Franklin Templeton, in May 2023.

TORONTO — Hydro One Ltd. says chief financial and regulatory officer Chris Lopez is stepping down on June 30 to pursue other opportunities. The company says it will now begin an internal and external search for his replacement.

Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs broke records with their compensation in 2022, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. “The data this year is breaking new all-time highs,” said senior economist David Macdonald.

Asian markets opened the year on a downward trend after Wall Street benchmarks ticked lower on the last trading day of 2023. U.S. futures were mixed and oil prices gained more than $1 a barrel. Japan's markets were closed for a holiday.