National Business

TORONTO — Canadian insurance companies are slashing premiums in a bid to help small- and medium-sized businesses grappling with COVID-19.

MONTREAL — Transat A.T. Inc. plans to use the federal emergency wage subsidy to rehire 4,000 employees it had temporarily laid off after halting all flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — The Stars Group Inc. says it saw record revenue in its first quarter as COVID-19 led to an increase in online poker and casino games starting in March.

TORONTO — Chris McKhool still has many questions about how the federal government will support Canadian artists in the latest update to the COVID-19 emergency benefits program — but for now he's trying to stay focused on the music.

BANGKOK — Shares surged Friday in Asia after China reported economic data that, while bleak, was better than expected.

NEW YORK — Arthouses are closed. Film festivals are cancelled . But double features, matinees and film series continue to run unabated in one vital, virtual corner of moviedom.

NEW YORK — The government’s lending program for small businesses is tapped out, leaving business owners who still need loans waiting for Congress to approve more funding.

WASHINGTON — First, it was bars, restaurants, hotels. And clothing stores, movie theatres , entertainment venues. And countless small businesses, from bookstores to barber shops.

Everyone knows that Canada is in a deep economic slump caused by measures taken to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic — but they'll have to wait until May 1 to find out if it's officially a recession. A special meeting of the C.D.

TORONTO — It was a mixed day in markets Thursday as Canada's main stock index closed down on poor performance in the financials and energy sectors while major U.S. stock indices saw gains driven by major tech companies.