National Business

TORONTO — North American markets were flat on a low volume trading day to close off the week, with one analyst said investors are waiting for a sense of direction.

CALGARY — Kansas City Southern has reaffirmed its support for Canadian National Railway Co.'s takeover bid, but said it may delay a shareholder vote on the deal next week if a U.S. regulator doesn't rule on a key voting trust soon.

Some private sector companies are implementing policies requiring Canadian employees to be fully vaccinated to visit the office or participate in staff meetups — and at least one expert expects more businesses to follow suit.

Canada's biggest bookstore chain is seeing rising sales thanks in part to an online community of TikTok users sharing videos reviewing and recommending books.

MONTREAL — Lightspeed Commerce Inc. says it has raised an additional US$107.4 million in its share offering after the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full.

TORONTO — The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board says its net assets grew to top half a trillion dollars in its first quarter. CPP Investments says its net assets for the quarter ended June 30 totalled $519.6 billion, up from $497.

HAMILTON — Stelco Holdings Inc. has signed a deal to buy back about 13 per cent of its outstanding shares from one of its largest shareholders for $398 million. The steelmaker says it will buy back and cancel nearly 11.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — As the bus carried the New York Yankees through the cornfields blanketing this serene, rolling farmland of northeast Iowa, Aaron Judge noticed a difference from the usual arrival in the next city.

TORONTO — Ontario's Superior Court of Justice has certified a class-action lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc., which advances a fight to get some of the platform's Canadian couriers and drivers recognized as employees.

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday dismissed Canada's protests of harsh sentences handed down by Chinese courts to Canadians whose cases are seen as linked to the arrest in Vancouver of a top executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei.