National Business

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer spending plunged by a record-shattering 13.6% in April as the viral pandemic shuttered businesses, forced millions of layoffs and sent the economy into a deep recession.

LOS ANGELES — After 33 seasons on the air, “Cops” has been dropped by the Paramount Network as protests against police proliferate around the world.

NEW YORK — After three months of near total blackout of cinemas nationwide, movie theatres are preparing to reopen — even if it means only a few titles on the marquee and showings limited to as little as 25% capacity.

TORONTO — Child-care centres in Ontario will be allowed to reopen Friday with a long list of restrictions in place, including on the number of people per room, extra cleaning and COVID-19 screening measures.

IBM is getting out of the facial recognition business, saying it's concerned about how the technology can be used for mass surveillance and racial profiling.

BALTIMORE — U.S. employers laid off 7.7 million workers in April — a sign of just how deep the economic hole is after the closure of thousands of offices, restaurants, stores and schools during the pandemic.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (15,833.74, down 141.17 points.) Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Up five cents, or 8.62 per cent, to 63 cents on 40.

TORONTO — Small business owners have spent months urging the Ontario government to hear their pleas for a temporary ban on commercial evictions, but some say the answer they've received doesn't go nearly far enough.

TORONTO — The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index surpassed 10,000 points for the first time Tuesday even as North America's other stock markets gave back some of their recent gains. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 141.17 points at 15,833.

CALGARY — Calfrac Well Services Ltd. says it is seeking advice on changes to its capital structure but doesn't know of any "material change" that would account for a 75.6 per cent increase in its share price on Tuesday.