National Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. productivity growth was unrevised at a 5.4% rate in the first three months of the year, though recent increases in labor costs accelerated.

MONTREAL — Bell Canada has signed a deal with Amazon Web Services Inc. to boost its 5G network capabilities. Under the deal, Bell will embed AWS computing and storage services at the edge of its 5G network.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week for a fifth straight week to a new pandemic low, the latest evidence that the U.S. job market is regaining its health as the economy further reopens.

CALGARY — The board of directors at Inter Pipeline Ltd. says it still supports a takeover deal the company signed with Pembina Pipeline Corp., despite an increased offer from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners.

TORONTO — The frenzied pace of home sales that appeared at the start of the year is continuing to slow as new figures from the Toronto Real Estate Board show 13 per cent fewer homes in the region changed hands between April and May.

NEW YORK (AP) — In a designation that feels a little less significant every year, CBS has finished the 2020-21 television season as the nation's most-watched television network for the 13th consecutive time. CBS averaged 6.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,971.15, down 4.86 points.) Blackberry Ltd. (TSX:BB). Technology. Up $4.33, or 31.1 per cent, to $18.25 on 37.1 million shares.

TORONTO — A good showing from the energy sector continues to buoy Canada's main stock index and the Canadian dollar, with one analyst saying investors can expect strong performances from the sector for months to come.

Montreal-area home prices surged in May compared to a year ago when the province was grappling with the onset of the pandemic, Quebec's real estate board said Wednesday.

HALIFAX — After months of reduced air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines in Canada say they're ready to contend with what could be a turbulent summer season.