National Business

TORONTO — A drop in the energy and materials sectors prompted by a COVID lockdown in China's financial capital pushed Canada's main stock index slightly lower to start the final trading week of the first quarter.

TORONTO — The Bank of Nova Scotia is increasing the size of its share buyback plan.

CALGARY — Shares in Calgary-based Leucrotta Exploration Inc. were up more than 50 per cent midday Monday on news Vermilion Energy Inc. will acquire the junior energy company in a $477 million deal.

CALGARY — The investment group owned by a billionaire Russian oligarch is selling part of its leading stake in a Calgary-based natural gas company. ARETI Energy SPV says it will sell 15 million Spartan Delta Corp.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for humanitarian help has been answered by the European Commission, the government of Canada and dozens of celebrities assembled by advocacy nonprofit Global Citizen, including Oscar winners Billie Eilis

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden released a budget blueprint Monday that calls for higher taxes on the wealthy, lower federal deficits, more money for police and greater funding for education, public health and housing.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Tesla rose sharply Monday after the electric car maker announced its second stock split in less than two years.

BEIJING (AP) — China began its most extensive lockdown in two years Monday to conduct mass testing and control a growing outbreak in Shanghai as questions are raised about the economic toll of the nation's “zero-COVID” strategy.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A troubled Dubai real estate developer said Monday it suspected that $42 million had been “misappropriated” by the company's former officials while declaring it massively overvalued its holdings.

TORONTO — Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week: Budget date? Observers will be watching Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland for a date for the upcoming federal budget.