National Business

TORONTO — Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. has agreed to spend nearly $2 billion on its Canadian plants as part of tentative contract deal with Unifor announced Tuesday. Under the proposed settlement, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said $1.

TORONTO — The technology sector helped North American stock markets to bounce back despite ongoing concerns about COVID-19 infections and U.S. political gridlock. The S&;P/TSX composite index closed up 161.12 points at 16,142.89.

NEW YORK — Brookfield Properties, one of the nation's largest mall operators, is cutting 20% of its workforce in its retail division, as the pandemic has accelerated online shopping and resulted in a string of store closings.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Sales of existing homes rose 2.4% in August to its highest level since 2006 as the housing market recovers from a widespread shutdown in the spring brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.

CALGARY — A year after putting its European bulk liquid storage business on the block, Inter Pipeline Ltd. has signed a deal to sell most of it to the Madrid-based CLH Group for $715 million.

HALIFAX — Atlantic Canada's airports say they need more money from the federal government to cope with a massive decline in airline traffic owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — Cloud software company Dye & Durham Ltd. of Toronto has signed a deal to buy U.K.-based rival Property Information Exchange Ltd. for $52.9 million.

DETROIT — The union that represents Canadian auto workers has extended its contract with Ford beyond its original Monday night deadline, a sign that progress is being made toward an agreement.

NEW YORK — The novelty of television stars getting Emmy Awards delivered to their homes wasn't enough to keep the annual show from slipping further in popularity. The Nielsen company said 6.

WATERLOO, Ont. — BlackBerry Ltd. and Telus Corp. say Edmonton's police service has signed on to become a customer for a secure emergency preparedness system that's used by the U.S. government.