National Business

TORONTO — HSBC says it will offer rates below one per cent for some mortgages, which rate comparison website RateSpy.com says is a record low for Canada. However, experts say the rock-bottom rate comes with costs of its own.

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House on Friday approved a bill to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level, reversing what supporters call a failed policy of criminalizing pot use and taking steps to address racial disparities in

CALGARY — Crescent Point Energy Corp. says it is cutting its capital spending budget for 2021 because of the ongoing volatility in oil prices.

COPENHAGEN — Denmark has decided to end all oil and gas activities in the North Sea by 2050 and has cancelled its latest licensing round, saying the country is "now putting an end to the fossil fuel era.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit widened 1.7% in October to $63.1 billion. The politically sensitive gap in the trade of goods with China and Mexico grew.

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada's November employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets): Unemployment rate: 8.5 per cent (8.9) Employment rate: 59.5 per cent (59.4) Participation rate: 65.1 per cent (65.

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate was 8.5 per cent in November. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities.

OTTAWA — Canada's national unemployment rate was 8.5 per cent in November. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets): — Newfoundland and Labrador 12.2 per cent (12.8) — Prince Edward Island 10.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit held steady at $3.8 billion in October as both exports and imports climbed higher.

MONTREAL — Laurentian Bank Financial Group beat expectations even as it reported its fourth-quarter profit slipped to $36.8 million compared with $41.3 million a year earlier.