National Business

Vancouver-based Lithium Americas Corp. says it has suspended construction activities at its US$565-million lithium project in Argentina in accordance with government-mandated restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — Longview Aviation Capital Corp. says it's suspending new production of Dash 8-400 and Series 400 Twin Otter aircraft in a move that will affect nearly 1,000 employees.

TORONTO — Canada's securities regulators suggests companies don't have to resend proxy-related materials to shareholders if they plan to move annual meetings online because of COVID-19.

NEW YORK — Historian Niall Ferguson has a knack for timing his TV projects. He debuted his examination of the global financial system in “The Ascent of Money” just as the 2008 economic crisis was hitting.

WASHINGTON — The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15, to July 15, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

TORONTO — Walmart Canada says it will hire 10,000 more employees to work in its stores and distribution centres as it deals with issues related to COVID-19.

CALGARY — Canada's oldest diamond mine is being shut down to protect workers and local communities from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales jumped in February to their highest level in 13 years, a trend that will almost certainly be reversed as people stop showing their property out of fear of infection in the coronavirus outbreak.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.4 per cent to $52.0 billion in January, prior to the economic impact of unprecedented efforts to deal with the COVID-19 virus. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 1.

VANCOUVER — American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP is suspending its cash payouts to investors and moving to cut costs in an effort to preserve cash during the disruption caused by COVID-19.