National Business

LONDON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed for fighter jets to ensure his country's victory over Russia in a dramatic speech before the U.K.

TORONTO — Losses in the base metals sector helped lead Canada's main stock index lower in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also fell. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 35.50 points at 20,689.50.

TORONTO — Automotive industry leaders say the need for Canada to take action on the electric vehicle transition has taken on significantly greater urgency as money starts to flow in the U.S. from massive government incentives.

TORONTO — The parent company of the master franchisee of Tim Hortons coffee shops in China says it has signed a deal for the exclusive development of Popeyes in mainland China and Macau. TH International Ltd.

TORONTO — Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. says its share of the latest quarterly profit of the asset management business it owns with Brookfield Corp. amounted to US$19 million.

TORONTO — Automakers have made high-profile price cuts for some of the most well-known electric cars this year, but experts say the overall sticker shock of buying vehicles will prove harder to remove.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening modestly picky on Wall Street as traders absorb more earnings reports from big U.S. companies.

TORONTO — Brookfield Reinsurance has signed a deal to buy Argo Group International Holdings for US$1.1 billion in cash. Argo is a U.S. focused underwriter of specialty insurance products.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An international team of investigators said Wednesday it found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of heavy anti-aircraft weapons to Ukrainian separatists who shot down Malaysia

LONDON (AP) — Microsoft’s stalled $68.7 billion deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard has hit a fresh hurdle in the United Kingdom, where the antitrust watchdog said Wednesday that it will stifle competition and hurt gamers.