National Business

CALGARY — The sombre mood that has gripped the Calgary-based oilpatch for several years is starting to show flickers of hope, with more financially secure companies making moves to grow in 2021.

SYDNEY, Australia — The outbreak in Sydney’s northern beach suburbs has grown to 70 cases with an additional 30 in the last 24 hours, and authorities say they may never be able to trace the source.

SYDNEY, Australia — Sydney’s northern beaches will enter a lockdown similar to the one imposed during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March as a cluster of cases in the area increased to 41.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (17,534.63, down 118.31 points.) Sabina Gold and Silver Corp. (TSX:SBB). Materials. Down 16 cents, or 5.25 per cent, to $2.89 on 22.

REGINA — The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is calling on the Saskatchewan government to consult with First Nations before shutting down casinos, which it says wasn't done before this weekend.

TORONTO — North American stock markets faded following a strong start Friday after U.S. stimulus negotiations hit a snag. The three U.S. markets hit record highs in morning trading before falling on political infighting that prevented U.S.

MONTREAL — Quebec's provincial pension fund manager announced Friday that it will invest $1 billion in Invenergy Renewables, which develops, owns and operates wind and solar power projects.

GUELPH, Ont. — A meat-processing plant in Guelph, Ont., is temporarily closing following a COVID-19 outbreak. The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph public health unit said on Thursday that at least 82 people at the Cargill plant have tested positive.

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant’s widow has denounced a lawsuit from her mother claiming she is owed years of pay for working as an unpaid assistant and support promised by the basketball legend, who was killed in a helicopter crash in January.

An Ontario judge has dismissed a bid by Canadian Appliance Source to be considered a hardware store in order to be deemed an essential service and remain open to in-person shopping under the province's lockdown rules.