National Business

As an underdog in Canada's recent spectrum auction, Execulink Telecom Inc. CEO Ian Stevens acknowledged that "inexperience and budget" were working against his company compared with some of the bigger players.

CALGARY — Unifor says representatives from its energy locals have ratified a tentative agreement that sets a pattern for more than 7,500 workers. The workers are part of the union's National Energy Program.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (20,331.54, up 53.03 points): Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Up 31 cents, or 1.42 per cent, to $22.12 on 17.1 million shares.

TORONTO — Strength in base metal and energy stocks helped Canada's main stock index post modest gains Friday, while U.S. markets also rose.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks pushed higher on Wall Street, leaving the market with its sixth weekly gain in a row. That’s the longest such winning streak in four years.

TORONTO — The head of EQB Inc. says customers are largely weathering the shock of high interest rates.

OTTAWA — Canada's banking regulator has left unchanged how much money the Big Six banks have to hold for a potential economic downturn.

EDMONTON — CWB Financial Group raised its dividend as it reported its fourth-quarter profit rose compared with a year ago. The Edmonton-based bank says it will pay a quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share, an increase of a penny.

MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin on Friday moved to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for at least another six years, announcing his candidacy in the presidential election next March that he is all but certain to win.