National Business

TORONTO — Strength in technology and utility stocks helped Canada's main stock index climb in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 66.75 points at 22,310.09.

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in April edged down one per cent compared with March.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Led by lower food and auto prices, inflation in the United States cooled slightly last month after three elevated readings, likely offering a tentative sigh of relief for officials at the Federal Reserve as well as President Joe Bid

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans unexpectedly paused their spending in April from March as inflation continued to sting and elevated interest rates made taking on debt more burdensome.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Real Estate Association says the number of home sales in April rose 10.1 per cent compared with a year ago, but attributed the gain primarily to the early Easter long weekend.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rising with hope that inflation is finally heading back in the right direction. The S&P 500 is flirting with the record it set a month and a half ago. A stall in spending by U.S.

MONTREAL — AtkinsRéalis reported its first-quarter profit attributable to shareholders rose to $45.5 million as its revenue increased nearly 20 per cent compared with a year ago. The company formerly known as SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales fell 2.1 per cent to $69.9 billion in March as sales of petroleum and coal products and motor vehicles fell. The agency says sales of petroleum and coal products dropped 8.0 per cent to $8.

TORONTO — Ontario will revamp how it compensates injured migrant workers.

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested the driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a farmworker bus early Tuesday, killing eight, on charges of driving under the influence-manslaughter.