National Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge eased further in December, and consumer spending fell — the latest evidence that the Fed's series of interest rate hikes are slowing the economy.

OTTAWA — Shopify Inc. says chief technology officer Allan Leinwand will be departing the company with chief executive Tobi Lütke to take on some of his responsibilities.

OTTAWA — The federal government posted a budgetary deficit of $3.6 billion in the first eight months of the fiscal year. In its monthly fiscal monitor, the finance department says the deficit compares to a deficit of $73.

TORONTO — Members of Canada's tech community say they are worried the sector's recent downturn will weigh even heavier on women founders, who have long trailed their male counterparts when fundraising.

CLARINGTON, Ont. — Ontario Power Generation, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. and Aecon Group Inc. are joining forces to build a small modular nuclear reactor in Ontario.

CALGARY — TotalEnergies EP Canada Ltd. says it is increasing its ownership in the Fort Hills oilsands project by acquiring part of Teck Resources Ltd.'s stake in the mine. Teck announced last year that it would sell its 21.

VANCOUVER — Canfor Corporation says as many as 157 employees face layoffs in one northern British Columbia town, but the company says it's too early to estimate job losses in a second community as the forest products firm restructures its B.C.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (20,700.50, up 100.90 points): Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up $1.74, or 3.92 per cent, to $46.09 on 13.9 million shares.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index made a turnaround from early losses to end up Thursday along with U.S. markets as data showed continued resilience in the U.S. economy.

OTTAWA — After a series of historic interest rate hikes, economists are left wondering whether job losses are next. High interest rates cause businesses and consumers to pull back on spending.