National Business

CALGARY — The hostile takeover of Canada's largest diversified mining company by a foreign entity would weaken this country's chances of becoming a leader in critical minerals, according to industry watchers.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (20,641.97, up 62.06): Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX:AOT). Basic Materials. Down one cent, or 1.47 per cent, to 67 cents on 25.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index posted a small gain to start the week while U.S. markets also rose in the latter half of the afternoon after sagging for most of the day.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota announced a settlement Monday in its lawsuit against Juul Labs and tobacco giant Altria — the first of thousands of cases against the e-cigarette maker to reach trial — just ahead of closing arguments.

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that he heard people’s anger over raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, but insisted that it was needed to keep the pension system afloat as the population ages.

OTTAWA — The country's largest federal public service union says if a deal isn't reached with the federal government by 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, it will launch a strike the next day.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Construction company EllisDon says Geoff Smith will step down as president and chief executive in June. The company says he will be replaced by Kieran Hawe, EllisDon’s current chief operating officer, construction.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says wholesale sales fell 1.7 per cent to $85.6 billion in February after hitting a record high in January.

TORONTO — Home Capital Group Inc. says its deal to be acquired by Smith Financial Corp. has cleared a key regulatory hurdle.

Magna International Inc. says it will engineer and build electric off-road vehicles for U.K.-based industrial conglomerate Ineos Group Ltd. Aurora, Ont.