National Business

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales rose in February for a fourth consecutive month as they climbed 0.3 per cent to $52.2 billion, boosted by sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers and at general merchandise stores.

MONTREAL — Clothing maker Samuelsohn has reopened its Montreal factory with nearly 150 employees to begin production of personal protective equipment for doctors, nurses and first responders in Quebec.

SEATTLE — Boeing and at least one other U.S.

WASHINGTON — Late-stage negotiations in Washington on a new $450 billion coronavirus aid package dragged past Monday's hoped-for deadline, but the Trump administration and key lawmakers insisted a final pact is within reach.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Governors in the Midwest are working to keep large meatpacking plants operating despite coronavirus outbreaks that have sickened hundreds of workers and threaten to disrupt the nation’s supply of pork and beef. In Kansas, Gov.

Some big restaurant chains have obtained loans from the government under a small-business relief program, leading business groups to call for changes to the program before Congress provides it with new funding.

SEATTLE — Boeing this week is restarting production of commercial airplanes in the Seattle area, putting about 27,000 people back to work after operations were halted because of the coronavirus.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — High Liner Foods Inc. says it has suspended production at its fish processing plant in Portsmouth, N.H., after confirming positive COVID-19 cases.

GUELPH, Ont. — Auto parts supplier Linamar Corp. says it is withdrawing its 2020 financial outlook until market conditions become clearer for the global automotive industry. Global light vehicle production is expected to be 21 per cent or 18.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (14,388.28, up 28.40 points.) StageZero Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:SZLS). Health care. Up one cent, or 14.29 per cent, to eight cents on 10.