National Business

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is scheduled to release its latest reading on the country's job market this morning.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit grew to $1.5 billion in January compared with $732 million in December as exports fell. The agency says merchandise exports fell 2 per cent in January to $48.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit grew to $1.5 billion in January compared with $732 million in December as exports fell. The agency says merchandise exports fell 2 per cent in January to $48.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit grew to $1.5 billion in January compared with $732 million in December as exports fell. The agency says merchandise exports fell 2 per cent in January to $48.

OTTAWA — Canada's national unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent in February. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets): — Newfoundland and Labrador 12.0 per cent (11.9) — Prince Edward Island 8.

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent in February. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities.

OTTAWA — A quick look at February employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets): Unemployment rate: 5.6 per cent (5.5) Employment rate: 61.8 per cent (61.8) Participation rate: 65.5 per cent (65.

TOKYO — Asian shares slipped Friday as fears about the virus outbreak once again dominated financial markets. Japan's benchmark Nikkei dived 3.1% to 20,663.32. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 2.1% to 6,259.20. South Korea's Kospi dropped 2.

NEW YORK — Exxon Mobil said Thursday it plans to reduce the number of oil rigs operating in an oil-rich region in the Southwest and may cut planned capital expenditures as the spreading coronavirus saps energy demand.

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates have sunk to a record low, giving many homeowners an opening to refinance their loans to free up money to spend or save. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage hit a record low of 3.29% this week from 3.