National Business

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index began the second half of the year with a broad rally that mirrored Friday's Canada Day performance of U.S. markets. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 167.50 points to 19,028.

SURREY, B.C. — FortisBC Energy Inc. says it will partner with Suncor Energy Inc. and Hazer Group Ltd. to build a hydrogen pilot project in Port Moody, B.C.

CALGARY — The Calgary Real Estate Board says sales eased in June as the market experienced a pullback in the detached and semi-detached housing categories.

OTTAWA — A pair of new reports from the Bank of Canada point to rising inflation expectations by Canadian businesses and consumers.

TORONTO — A group of prominent women in Canada’s tech sector are calling for employers to pay for U.S. staff to travel to get abortions. In an open letter, at least 50 signatories say they are “devastated” for those impacted by the U.S.

CALGARY — Cathedral Energy Services Ltd. has signed a deal to buy the directional drilling services business of Altitude Energy Partners LLC in an agreement it valued at about US$100 million in cash and shares in a bid to grow its U.S. business.

Families went bananas for Minions this weekend at the movie theater. “ Minions: The Rise of Gru ” brought in an estimated $108.5 million in ticket sales from 4,391 screens in North America, Universal Pictures said Sunday.

TORONTO — Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week: Bank of Canada surveys The Bank of Canada will release its business outlook survey and its Canadian survey of consumer expectations on Monday.

Canadian retailers are struggling with higher shipping costs as couriers tack hefty fuel surcharges onto shipping rates to recoup record gas prices.

NEW YORK — Stocks on Wall Street shook off a downbeat start and ended broadly higher Friday, though the rebound was not enough to erase their losses for the week. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% after having been down 0.9% in the early going.