National Business

TORONTO — Aimia Inc. has signed a deal to raise up to $32.5 million in a private placement of shares and warrants that will be used to fund operations and support its strategic investment plans.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index stepped lower Friday as broad-based weakness led by technology, battery metals and utilities outweighed energy gains, while U.S. markets were mixed amid losses in technology.

CALGARY — Business groups and energy companies celebrated a decision Friday by the Supreme Court of Canada that ruled Ottawa's impact assessment law for major project approvals is largely unconstitutional.

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union isn't adding any factories to those that are now on strike, but its president says more walkouts could begin at any moment. Until this week the union had been announcing additional factories on Fridays.

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer says higher interest rates will lead the economy to stagnate in the second half of the year, with a new report suggesting the federal deficit will rise significantly this fiscal year.

TORONTO — Canada's banking regulator has released draft guidelines on how it expects to oversee the integrity and security of financial institutions, including foreign interference risk.

OTTAWA — In an Oct. 7 story, The Canadian Press erroneously reported that the parliamentary budget officer estimates that an essential medicines drug plan would cost an additional $10 billion in 2024-25 and $12.1 billion in 2027-28.

The Canadian Real Estate Association has lowered its forecast for home sales and prices this year due to weakness in Ontario and B.C.

NEW YORK — Microsoft completed its purchase of video game-maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion on Friday, closing one of the most expensive tech acquisitions in history that could have repercussions across the video game industry.

NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase's third-quarter profit soared 35% from last year, fueled by a rapid rise in interest rates, but the bank's CEO, Jamie Dimon, issued a sobering statement about the current state of world affairs and economic instability.