National Business

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence inched up this month, showing signs of stabilizing, but remained near a six-year low in the face of the widespread business shutdowns that have sent the economy into recession.

TORONTO — Porter Airlines is extending the suspension of all of its flights by another month until July 29.

WASHINGTON — U.S. home prices accelerated in March even though sales plummeted, as those Americans still house shopping were forced to bid for a sharply diminished supply of homes. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 3.

SANTA FE, N.M. — George R.R. Martin, the famed author of the “Game of Thrones” fantasy series, has joined a group to buy the historic Santa Fe Southern Railroad.

TORONTO — Clothing retailer Roots Corp. has named Meghan Roach as its new chief executive. Roach, who has been interim chief executive since January, replaces Jim Gabel, who left the company after the board expressed a need for "renewed leadership.

TORONTO — Educational publisher Nelson has signed a deal to sell its domestic university textbook business to Top Hat and says it plans to focus on the kindergarten-to-Grade 12 market. Financial terms of the agreement were not immediately available.

BANGKOK — South Koreans will be required to wear masks when using public transportation and taxis nationwide starting Tuesday as authorities look for more ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus as people increase their public activities.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (15,075.42, up 161.78 points.) HEXO Corp. (TSX:HEXO). Health care. Up 21 cents, or 23.86 per cent, to $1.09 cents on 22.3 million shares.

MONTREAL — Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu was on track to receive around $12.9 million in total compensation last year, but the value fell by more than half as the airline's shares stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — Used car dealers in Ontario are starting to recover from the near total shutdown in April, but a survey released Monday suggests they expect sales and prices to be under pressure for the year as economic uncertainty clouds the market.