National Business

FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank is launching a new, expanded program to buy financial assets in a bid to calm markets as monetary authorities struggle to counter the devastation the virus outbreak is wreaking on the global economy.

NEW YORK — The number of physical books sold dropped 10 per cent from the previous week, the latest sign of the effect of the coronavirus on the publishing industry.

TORONTO — Canadian securities regulators say they are providing temporary relief from some required filings due to COVID-19.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. says its experience adjusting to hurricanes and floods positions it well to meet the challenges from COVID-19.

DETROIT — Concerns about the spreading coronavirus are forcing most of North America's auto plants to close, at least temporarily.

CALGARY — Oilsands giant Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. is joining a lengthening list of oilpatch players who are cutting 2020 capital spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic and plunging oil prices.

TORONTO — North American stock indexes plunged, crude oil prices tanked and the loonie fell to a five-year low as COVID-19 fears continued to rattle markets.

More major Canadian retailers joined the effort to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak by temporarily closing their stores or tweaking operations with one grocery store chain reducing hours. Metro Inc.

The federal government's decision to drastically limit traffic across the U.S-Canada border will be well worth the economic consequences if it helps curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials for a major Ontario border city said Wednesday.

TORONTO — Looking for a way to help amid an outbreak of the novel coronavirus sweeping across Canada, Toronto-based Spirit of York Distillery Co. didn't have to go very far.