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LONDON — The Bank of England voiced cautious optimism Thursday about the U.K.'s economic outlook in the wake of a sharp fall in coronavirus infections and the rapid rollout of the nation's COVID-19 vaccination program.

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to 770,000, a sign that layoffs remain high even as much of the U.S. economy is steadily recovering from the coronavirus recession.

CALGARY — The Alberta Securities Commission has ordered permanent market access bans against Cem (Jim) Can, Charles Michael Miller and Bluforest Inc. after finding they acted fraudulently in a pump-and-dump stock market manipulation scheme.

TORONTO — David Lobo has been named interim president and chief executive of Ontario's cannabis distributor. Lobo has been with the Ontario Cannabis Store since its inception and most recently served as its chief merchandising officer.

SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Ottawa is investing $50.5 million in Moltex Energy Canada Inc. to help in the development of the company's stable salt nuclear reactor and spent fuel recycling technology. The money includes $47.

CALGARY — Toronto's Amanda George says she was indulging in some late-night retail therapy when she made a $300 impulse buy from an unfamiliar website just before Christmas.

KITCHENER, Ont. — Waterloo Brewing Ltd. is cutting the prices it charges Ontario's pubs and restaurants for its most popular brands in an effort to help them recover from the pandemic.

OTTAWA — Hexo Corp. reported a loss of $20.8 million in its latest quarter as its revenue nearly doubled compared with a year earlier. The cannabis company says its loss amounted to 17 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Jan. 31.

LANSING, Mich. — For the second time this week, the U.S. government’s road safety agency is sending a team to investigate a Tesla crash in Michigan.

BILLINGS, Mont. — Attorneys general from 21 states on Wednesday sued to to overturn President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.