National Business

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc. is reporting a 29-per-cent drop in profits in the second quarter despite higher revenues. The Quebec-based telecommunications company says its net income attributable to shareholders was $123.

TORONTO — RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust is seeing tenants steadily signing leases now that Canadian businesses are reopening following COVID-19 lockdowns, but office rental activity is rebounding at a slower rate.

TORONTO — Sun Life Financial Inc.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country posted a merchandise trade surplus of $3.2 billion in June as exports rose and imports fell. The result is a return to surplus after a $1.6 billion deficit in May. Total exports increased 8.

MONTREAL — Saputo Inc. is reporting lower profits in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 despite a 2.9 per cent increase in revenues as it continued to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — BCE Inc. reported a surge in second quarter profit Thursday and as it added new customers and saw improved results in segments affected by COVID-19.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The protégé of Iran’s supreme leader, Ebrahim Raisi, was sworn in as the country's new president during a ceremony in parliament on Thursday, an inauguration that completes hard-liners’ dominance of all branches of government in t

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar Airways says it has grounded 13 Airbus A350s over degradation of the plane's fuselage. Qatar Airways made the announcement on Thursday, further escalating a monthslong dispute with the European airplane maker.

TORONTO — Manulife Financial Corp. beat expectations as its net profit surged in the second quarter to $2.6 billion on continued growth in Asia and strong contributions from wealth and asset management.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Maple Leaf Foods. Inc. says it expects its meat protein business margins and plant-based foods revenue growth to make a full recovery in the second half of 2021 as it reported a plunge in its second quarter net profit.