National Business

OTTAWA — Canada's merchandise trade surplus grew to $5.3 billion in May, the largest trade surplus since August 2008, helped by higher energy prices and a dip in imports.

TORONTO — Dye & Durham Ltd. has revised its offer for Australian company Link Administration Holdings Ltd. again. The company says it is now offering up to A$4.70 per share including A$4.

For those who remain undeterred by the daunting lines and flight delays at Canadian airports, questions remain about how to save money on air travel amid mounting fuel costs and inflation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week and while layoffs remain low, it was the fifth consecutive week that claims topped the 230,000 mark and the most in almost six months.

CALGARY — Cannabis retailer High Tide Inc. has signed a deal to buy nine stores from Choom Holdings Inc. for $5.1 million in shares.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (18.729.66, down 104.50 points.) Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX). Materials. Down 24 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to $22.45 on 14.

TORONTO — Sunwing Airlines Inc. is rejecting a claim by pilots that it bargained in bad faith by opting not to disclose a forthcoming acquisition by WestJet.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index bounced back near the end of day to avoid its weakest close in 15 months, but still ended down on commodity weakness with crude oil and metals sinking on recession fears.

TORONTO — The merger saga of Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. continues as two days of talks with the Competition Bureau failed to resolve the watchdog's objections to the companies' proposed deal.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials were concerned at their meeting last month that consumers were increasingly anticipating higher inflation, and they signaled that much higher interest rates could be needed to restrain it.