National Business

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rebounded from morning losses after the World Health Organization tempered fears that a deadly virus outbreak in China was a global crisis. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 21.

TORONTO — Canadian retail chain Sunrise Records is branching out into the United States with the acquisition of For Your Entertainment, a music, film and pop culture outlet that operates across much of the country.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (17,621.78, up 21.92 points.) Encana Corp. (TSX:ECA). Energy. Unchanged at $5.19 on 97.4 million shares. AltaGas Ltd. (TSX:ALA). Energy.

The gap between what Canadians pay for legal and illicit cannabis is widening — a sign experts say points to the need for the marijuana industry to make prices a priority this year.

TORONTO — Waterfront Toronto's board will have more time to make a decision on whether to move forward with Sidewalk Lab's proposal to build a smart city.

LONDON — Britain’s delayed and disputed Brexit bill became law on Thursday, removing the last U.K. obstacle to the country leaving the European Union in just over a week. The U.K.

CALGARY — Shares in natural gas producer Birchcliff Energy Ltd. fell by as much as 13.7 per cent on Thursday after it announced a higher-than-expected $350-million 2020 capital spending budget.

NEW YORK — One of the world's most prestigious literary publishers has chosen just its fourth editorial leader in its 105-year history: Reagan Arthur has been named executive vice-president and publisher of Alfred A.

FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank has decided to launch a top-to-bottom review of how it steers the economy in the 19 countries that use the euro currency.

TORONTO — The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Bank of Montreal are partnering to help companies to address mental health issues in the workplace.