National Business

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index was essentially flat Monday as losses in telecom stocks offset gains in energy, while U.S. markets were down ahead of Tuesday's election. Monday was the “calm before the storm” ahead of the U.S.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted ahead of a momentous week full of potential flashpoints, while oil prices climbed and Treasury yields dropped. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Monday, even though the majority of stocks within the index rose.

HALIFAX — An ambitious target for housing and a replacement for federal carbon pricing are among the major promises contained in the Nova Scotia Liberals' election platform, which commits to $2.3 billion in spending over four years.

VANCOUVER — Greater Vancouver Realtors says home sales in the region jumped 31.

Risks remain in the mortgage market as a wave of borrowers still have to renew at higher rates, alternative lenders take a growing share of new mortgages and delinquency rates keep creeping up, Canada's housing agency says.

CPA Canada says it's reached agreements with its Ontario and Quebec counterparts on education, exams and standard-setting for the accounting profession. CPA Ontario and the Quebec CPA Order will officially split from the national organization on Dec.

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government has released a new critical mineral strategy that it says will speed up projects and better involve First Nation communities.

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government's auto safety regulator has ended a 2 1/2-year investigation into Ford engine failures after the company replaced engines or extended the warranty on some vehicles.

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says vehicle sales in October were up 8.8 per cent from the same month last year.

TORONTO — Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. says it earned a third-quarter profit of US$129 million from its stake in the asset management business it owns with Brookfield Corp.