National Business

WASHINGTON — The U.S. services sector shrank for a second month in May as the coronavirus pandemic triggered shutdowns and layoffs around the country. Activity did rise from levels last month that had not been seen since the recession.

BALTIMORE — U.S. businesses shed 2.8 million jobs in May, significantly less than the 9.3 million job losses that were expected. The payroll company ADP reported Wednesday that businesses have let go of a combined 22.

TORONTO — Ontario officials have launched four separate probes into the long-term care system amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen more than 1,600 residents die and the military and hospitals called in to get outbreaks under control.

WASHINGTON — Eagles songwriter Don Henley urged Congress on Tuesday to “Take It to the Limit” to protect artists against online pirating, wading into a copyright fight pitting Hollywood and the recording industry against big tech platforms like Googl

NEW YORK — For many Americans, the unrest sweeping through several cities this past weekend was reason enough to stay home and watch it on television.

TORONTO — Investor optimism about economic reopenings pushed North American stock markets, crude oil prices and the loonie to nearly three-month highs. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 158.15 points to 15,394.

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says Canadian auto sales dropped by 44 per cent in May, an improvement from the estimated 74.6-per cent decline in April when the COVID-19 outbreak first affected a full month of sales.

MONTREAL — Huawei Technologies Inc.'s ambitions to be a player in Canada's 5G network are very much in doubt after two of the country's three largest telecom companies announced partnerships with the Chinese tech giant's European rivals.

TORONTO — The number of COVID-19 cases at a farm in southwestern Ontario has nearly doubled in a matter of days, local authorities said Tuesday, as the province's chief coroner's office said it would investigate the death of a migrant worker from the

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (15,394.36, up 158.15 points.) Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX:BTE). Energy. Up 15 cents, or 34.09 per cent, to 59 cents on 16.2 million shares.