National Business

OTTAWA — Pandemic-related shifts in how people shop, sending more people into cyberspace than a physical space, means central banks must speed up work on creating their own digital currencies, says a top Bank of Canada official.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new strategy for combating COVID-19 seemed to unravel Wednesday as regional leaders chose their own paths and the mayors of the cities facing the toughest restrictions accused Johnson of using the crisi

Two Hudson's Bay Co. landlords are suing the retailer for unpaid rent, alleging the iconic department store that anchors shopping malls across Canada hasn't paid its bills at multiple locations since April.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has reached a plea agreement with the U.S. government over charges of price-fixing in the chicken industry. Under the agreement, Pilgrim’s Pride would pay a fine of $110.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Consumer banking giant Bank of America says third-quarter profit declined 15.6% from a year earlier, but saw less need to put aside money to cover potentially bad loans, citing improvements in the U.S. economy.

SILVER SPRING, Md.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Goldman Sachs said Wednesday that its profits jumped sharply in the third quarter, helped by a strong performance by its trading desks and less need to set aside funds to cover potentially bad loans.

NEW YORK — Walmart says it will spread out its traditional one-day Black Friday deals over three weekends in November in an effort to reduce crowds in its stores during a pandemic.

CALGARY — Cathedral Energy Services Ltd. says veteran CEO Scott MacFarlane plans to retire from the Calgary-based directional and horizontal drilling company in April.

TORONTO — Online investment firm Wealthsimple Technologies Inc. has reached unicorn status after raising $114 million from a group of investors led by U.S. venture capital firm TCV. The deal announced Wednesday values the Toronto-based company at $1.