National Business

TORONTO — Strength in energy, financials and base metals helped Canada's main stock index gain more than 200 points Monday, while U.S. stock markets also rose.

VANCOUVER — British Columbia is setting annual rate increases for electricity for the next two years in response to rising demand for power along with economic uncertainty stemming from actions south of the border, Energy Minister Adrian Dix said.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed again on Monday as Wall Street’s wild roller-coaster ride veers back upward. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% for a second straight gain after it fell 10% below its record late last week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending just a bit in February after a sharp pullback the previous month , signaling that Americans are shopping more cautiously as concerns about the direction of the economy mount.

OTTAWA — Home sales in February fell to their lowest level in more than a year as homebuyers stayed on the sidelines amid the uncertainty created by the trade war with the United States, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Monday.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says the city's response to steep U.S. tariffs on Canada will include barring American companies from bidding on some city contracts and a tax deferral program for industrial properties impacted by the tariffs.

MONTREAL — Mayors of Quebec aluminum towns say they are confident their regions can withstand the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on the metal by U.S. President Donald Trump, with many saying it's business as usual.

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Kansas City says about 600 workers represented by the United Steelworkers union have ratified a new four-year collective agreement. The union represents clerical and intermodal employees at the railway in Canada.

Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy protection for a second time as traffic in U.S. shopping malls fades and competition from online retailers like Amazon, Temu and Shein intensifies.

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in February slowed four per cent compared with January.