National Business

TORONTO — Gains in the technology, utilities and financial sectors boosted Canada's main stock index in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were mixed. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 22.69 points at 20,254.01.

MONTREAL — Air Transat plans to offer flights to nearly 50 destinations this winter as Canadians look to resume travelling after the industry came to standstill during the pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home construction rose 3.6% in May as builders battled a surge in lumber prices that have made homes more expensive The May increase left construction at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.

OTTAWA — Canada's national annual inflation rate was 3.6 per cent in May, Statistics Canada says.

OTTAWA — Canada's national annual inflation rate was 3.6 per cent in May, Statistics Canada says. Here's what happened in the provinces (previous month in brackets): — Newfoundland and Labrador: 4.4 per cent (4.3) — Prince Edward Island: 6.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the consumer price index in May was up 3.6 per cent compared with a year ago, its largest yearly increase since May 2011. The reading for May compared with a year-over-year gain of 3.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says wholesale sales rose 0.4 per cent in April to $71.5 billion as sales of building materials and supplies rose to a new record. The agency says sales of building material and supplies were up 8.7 per cent at $13.

TORONTO — NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust is raising its hostile takeover offer for Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust. In what it is calling its best and final offer, the Toronto-based trust says it will pay A$2.

PARIS (AP) — France is lifting mandatory mask-wearing outdoors and will halt an eight-month nightly coronavirus curfew on June 20.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump and one of his top advisers during his administration, has a book deal.