National Business

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Finance Minister Allan MacMaster tabled the province's 2023-24 budget Thursday, with a heavy focus on health. Some highlights: — The $14.4-billion budget — with an estimated $278-million deficit — includes $6.

RALEIGH, N.C.

EDMONTON — Crumbl Cookies says it plans to open its first Canadian store later this month.

GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss central bank hiked its key interest rate Thursday and declared that a government-orchestrated takeover of troubled Credit Suisse by rival bank UBS ended the financial turmoil.

The labor market continues to defy Federal Reserve attempts to cool hiring, with U.S. applications for unemployment benefits down again last week and remaining at historically low levels. Jobless claims in the U.S.

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England focused on fighting inflation, announcing an 11th consecutive interest rate increase Thursday despite concerns about the economic fallout from troubles in the global financial system .

OTTAWA — A federal source says the coming budget will detail how the Liberals plan to go after hidden or unexpected consumer fees, following the United States announcing its own crackdown on these charges.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly lower Thursday after the Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate, while noting the end may be near for its economy-crunching hikes to interest rates.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government projected a $1-billion surplus in its budget Wednesday, with no new taxes and millions in new spending.

CALGARY — A U.S. activist investor has set its sights on Calgary-based Parkland Corp., urging the fuel retailer to consider selling or spinning off its Burnaby, B.C., refinery.