National Business

NEW YORK — U.S. movie theatres nationwide are preparing to shut down after President Donald Trump announced new guidelines urging against gatherings of more than 10 people because of the coronavirus pandemic.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index hit a 52-week low Monday amid heightened volatility caused by a steep drop in crude oil prices and investor angst over the spread of COVID-19.

MONTREAL — Air Canada is halving its seat capacity in the second quarter and withdrawing its earnings forecast for 2020 and 2021 amid a "severe drop in traffic" due to the novel coronavirus.

NEW YORK — Amazon said Monday that it needs to hire 100,000 people across the U.S. to keep up with a crush of orders as the coronavirus spreads and keeps more people at home, shopping online.

TORONTO — Food service couriers and mail carriers are being encouraged to change the way they handle shipments as more Canadians self-isolate to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

CALGARY — It's a "glass half-full" way of looking at a crisis but as plunging oil prices cast a shadow over oil and gas companies in Western Canada, the drilling industry is already slowing down because of the weather.

EDMONTON — Aurora Cannabis Inc. says founder and former chief executive Terry Booth has sold nearly 12.2 million shares in the company into the open market.

OTTAWA — Home sales in February were up sharply compared with February 2019 when sales hit a decade-low for the month, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Monday.

MONTREAL — MTY Food Group Inc. says it will postpone the collection of royalties from franchisees for four weeks as its stock plummeted amid decreased demand triggered by COVID-19.

NEW YORK — Stocks dropped 9% in early trading Monday on Wall Street as huge swaths of the economy come closer to shutting down, from airlines to restaurants.