National Business

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.1% in the final quarter of last year, but damage from the spreading coronavirus is likely depressing growth in the current quarter and for the rest of the year.

NEW YORK — Health officials confronted tough questions and doubts Thursday about testing to intercept the fast-spreading virus, with scrutiny focused on a four-day delay in screening an infected California woman despite her doctors’ early calls to do

The head of Canada’s largest port says the novel coronavirus is eating into trade following a year that saw cargo volumes dip.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index plunged for a fifth straight day before trading was prematurely halted while U.S. markets were in correction territory on the path to their worst weekly performance since the financial crisis.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. increased its dividend as it anticipates profitable growth this year from its meat operations and revenues increasing by 30 per cent from its plant protein group.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (16,717.44, down 324.48 points.) Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Down six cents, or 5.08 per cent, to $1.12 on 8.

MONTREAL — National Bank of Canada took a charge relating to a tax-fraud investigation but nonetheless topped expectations, reporting a 10-per-cent profit jump in its latest quarter.

Toronto Dominion Bank Group marked the start of its financial year by being the only member of the Big Six to fall short of analyst expectations. The Toronto-based bank reported Thursday a first-quarter profit of $3 billion, up from $2.

TORONTO — Hudson's Bay Co. executive chairman Richard Baker has won shareholder approval to take the retailer private after months of trying to appease rival shareholders and making a trip to the Ontario Securities Commission.

MONTREAL — TC Transcontinental is launching a plastic recycling group to handle materials within its packaging operations and plastics recovered from other commercial, industrial and agricultural sources.