National Business

MONTREAL — The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers says Montreal-area home sales rose 9.3 per cent in August compared with the same month last year, with levels slightly higher than the historical average for this time of year.

MONTREAL — The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven has rejected a takeover offer from Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. said the proposal by the Canadian convenience store operator "grossly undervalues" the company.

Four months out from an unprecedented split between the regulators for accountants in Ontario and Quebec and their national counterpart, CPA Canada is pitching a new, separate membership to accountants in the departing provinces. On Sept.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s incoming CEO says the retailer is convinced it can close on a blockbuster bid to take over 7-Eleven-owner Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd, even as the target company says the offer is too low to seriously consider.

VICTORIA — Public transit in British Columbia should be free for everybody, says Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau. The Greens are making free public transit one of the party's promises ahead of B.C.'s Oct. 19 election, she said Thursday.

TORONTO — The former chief financial officer of RBC is again pushing back against claims by the bank that it was justified in firing her for allegedly breaching its code of conduct.

NEW YORK (AP) — After months of dozens of restaurant closings and headlines about “endless shrimp” woes, Red Lobster says it will soon exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A U.S.

CALGARY — An oil and gas industry group is calling on the federal Competition Bureau to ensure environmental groups are held to the same truth-in-advertising standards as other sectors under new federal greenwashing rules.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index moved lower on Thursday as energy, industrial and tech stocks weighed on Bay St., while U.S. markets were mixed. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 52.48 points at 22,988.28.

NEW YORK (AP) — Most U.S. stocks fell following a mixed round of data on the economy, keeping them on track for their worst week since April. The S&P 500 slipped 0.