National Business

TORONTO — Municipalities across Central and Eastern Canada have spent months preparing for an event that will last just three-and-a-half minutes: a total solar eclipse that will cast parts of the country into complete darkness.

MONTREAL — An activist investor seeking to reinstate Glenn Chamandy as chief executive of Gildan Activewear Inc. says it wants to reduce costs at the clothing manufacturer and increase its market share in a bid to boost its earnings and share price.

HALIFAX — The minimum wage is going up today in all four Atlantic Canadian provinces. Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the way with a 60-cent increase, bringing its hourly rate to $15.60 — the highest minimum wage in the region.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are hanging near their records at the start of a week with several influential economic reports, including the government’s monthly jobs market survey on Friday. The S&P 500 was up 0.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin loved pulling pranks, so much so they began rolling outlandish ideas every April Fools' Day not long after starting their company more than a quarter century ago.

CALGARY — Parkland Corp. says its refinery in Burnaby, B.C., returned to normal operations on March 29. The company says the return comes after an unplanned shutdown on Jan. 12 due to extreme cold weather.

TORONTO — The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and investment manager Bridgepoint have signed a deal to sell Dorna Sports to Liberty Media, the company behind Formula One auto racing. The transaction puts an enterprise value of 4.

TORONTO — Canada looks set to dodge a recession despite the ongoing downward pressure from higher interest rates, Deloitte Canada said in its economic outlook report.

TORONTO — Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week: Outlook survey The Bank of Canada will release its latest business outlook survey and Canadian survey of consumer expectations on Monday.

Many Canadians these days are looking for ways to save money on their groceries. In some cities, non-profits and food co-ops are giving people alternative options as they look to change their shopping habits and cut down on their bills.