National Business

BISMARCK, N.D.

TORONTO — North American stock indexes have almost recovered from last week's steep losses after moving higher midweek on some strong earnings results. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 95.92 points at 16,309.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (16,309.23, up 95.92 points ). Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Financials. Up 39 cents, or 1.79 per cent, to $22.23 on 9.

TORONTO — A growing number of telecom companies are pushing back against the CRTC's decision to lower the rates they can charge smaller internet providers to use their networks. Shaw Communications Inc.

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve officials were widely divided at their meeting last month when they decided to cut rates for the first time in a decade, with some arguing for a bigger rate cut while others insisted the Fed should not cut rates at all.

SHERWOOD PARK, Alta. — Trans Mountain Corp. has advised construction contractors to get ready for the restart of its pipeline expansion project to the west coast.

TORONTO — Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan says it earned a 6.3 per cent return on its investments in the first six months of the year, raising its net assets to $201.4 billion. The gain increased the pension fund's net assets by $10.

TORONTO — Royal Bank of Canada increased its dividend as its third-quarter profit rose by five per cent to hit a record, but the lender's latest earnings missed estimates as challenging market conditions weighed on its capital markets division.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's president sent a bill to parliament Wednesday that would cut four zeroes from the value of the Islamic Republic's sanctions-battered currency, the rial, as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington.

OTTAWA — Canadian annual inflation hit the Bank of Canada's ideal target for a second straight month, providing a stretch of price stability that's unlikely to weigh heavily on next month's interest-rate decision.