National Business

FREEPORT, Maine — With Americans hunkering down and hankering to get outdoors during the pandemic, L.L. Bean recorded its best annual sales growth in nearly a decade, the company said Friday.

MONTREAL — An investor group including the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec has signed an agreement to buy New Look Vision Group Inc. in a deal that values the company at about $800 million.

FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government has decided not to privatize recreational cannabis sales.

OTTAWA — Canadian retail sales fell for a second consecutive month in January as many non-essential retailers were forced to restrict in-person shopping due to the pandemic, but early indications point to a rebound in February as the restrictions eas

JAKARTA, Indonesia — AstraZeneca's vaccine against COVID-19 was cleared Friday for use in Indonesia after the drug regulator declared it safe and clerics in the world’s most populous Muslim nation said a pig-derived element was acceptable in a pandem

CALGARY — Suncor Energy Inc. says it is investing in carbon capture technology company Svante Inc. as it looks for ways to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions from its extensive oil and gas operations.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (18,836.47, down 146.63 points.) Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Up one cent, or 1.35 per cent, to 75 cents on 14.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pulled back from record highs on weakness in the energy and technology sectors amid rising bond yields.

MONTREAL — The Quebec government says it is investing in cloud software company AppDirect as part of a deal the government says will create 730 jobs in Montreal. The province will provide AppDirect Canada with a loan of at most $54.

WASHINGTON — Canadian cannabis companies are cheering the reintroduction of the SAFE Banking Act to the U.S. House of Representatives today.