National Business

TORONTO — Canadian stock market activity soared in February as an investor frenzy for stocks such as BlackBerry Ltd.'s was accelerated by surplus cash from COVID-19 lockdowns.

BRUSSELS — The European Union said Wednesday that Britain's “unilateral action" on trade rules will breach international law and is threatening legal action as post-Brexit tensions continue to escalate between the two sides.

CALGARY — Waterous Energy Fund says it has prevailed in its takeover of private junior oilsands producer Osum Oil Sands Corp. It says a total of 45.

TORONTO — North American stock markets lost some ground midweek as the technology and materials sectors took hits from rising bond yields. The 10-year U.S. treasury yield rose to 1.48 per cent from 1.4 per cent.

TORONTO — Canadian auto sales in February were down nearly 10 per cent compared with February 2020, the last full month before the lockdowns began due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CALGARY — The president and country head for Shell Canada says its transition into a provider of cleaner energy is being driven by a network of "agile teams" of employees who are examining between 30 and 40 project ideas at a time.

Sky Regional Airlines Inc. will shut down at the end of March after Air Canada said it was ending its contract with the company. Sky Regional, which had partnered with Air Canada to operate flights along regional routes in Canada and the U.S.

Facebook says it is lifting its ban on political and social-issue ads put in place after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Political candidates, groups and others will be able to place ads on Facebook and Instagram beginning on Thursday.

NEW YORK — More than one-third of U.S.

Toronto's housing market soared to new heights in February even as the average home price surpassed $1 million for the first time and the recent buying frenzy intensified.