National Business

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate held steady at 5.0 per cent in December. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities.

OTTAWA — Canada's national unemployment rate held steady at 5.0 per cent in December. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets): _ Newfoundland and Labrador 10.1 per cent (10.

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada's December employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets): Unemployment rate: 5.0 per cent (5.1) Employment rate: 61.8 per cent (61.5) Participation rate: 65.0 per cent (64.

CALGARY — Vermilion Energy Inc. raised its dividend by 25 per cent as it announced a $570 million capital budget for 2023.

LONDON (AP) — Europe ended a bad year for inflation with some relief as price gains eased again. While the cost of living is still painfully high, the slowdown is a sign that the worst might be over for weary consumers.

TORONTO — A new study on work-life balance says flexible schedules and shorter work weeks can lead to more productive, healthy and loyal workers.

Sunwing has issued an apology to passengers left stranded after winter storms upended operations but says "most of our customers enjoyed their holidays with minimal disruption.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,506.84, down 81.99): Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up 95 cents, or 2.36 per cent, to $41.13 on 6.2 million shares.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index closed with slight losses Thursday, buoyed by strength in energy and metals, while U.S. markets lost more than one per cent amid continued strength in the job market. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 81.

TORONTO — The Insurance Bureau of Canada is estimating insured damages from hurricane Fiona will now reach $800 million. The figure is higher than the bureau's original estimate of $660 million.