National Business

TORONTO — Twenty-four-year-old Jason Francone has always been pretty good with his money. "Coupons are my middle name; sales are in my DNA," he says. It's not just the art of bargain-hunting that he's mastered, though.

VANCOUVER — Hecla Mining Co. has signed a deal to buy the shares in Alexco Resource Corp. it does not already hold in an all-stock agreement valued at about US$74 million.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities refused to let Canadian diplomats attend the trial of a Chinese-born Canadian tycoon who disappeared from Hong Kong five years ago, Canada’s government said Tuesday.

CALGARY — The $4.3-billion Heartland Petrochemical Complex, which has been under construction northeast of Edmonton since 2018, has produced its first plastic pellets. Owner and operator Inter Pipeline Ltd.

MONTREAL — A two-week strike at Canadian National Railway Co. is ending after the union representing 750 signals and communications workers agreed to binding arbitration.

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says Canadian auto sales were down 11.5 per cent in June compared with a year earlier as supply challenges persist.

MONTREAL — Canadian airlines and airports claimed top spots in flight delays over the July long weekend, notching more than nearly any other around the world. Air Canada ranked No.

TORONTO — Sunwing pilots filed a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, arguing Monday the airline bargained in bad faith as it already knew it would be acquired by WestJet.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,028.86, up 167.50 points.) Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSX:WCP). Energy. Up 31 cents, or 3.5 per cent, to $9.25 on 6.9 million shares.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index began the second half of the year with a broad rally that mirrored Friday's Canada Day performance of U.S. markets. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 167.50 points to 19,028.