National Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it will begin a series of interest-rate hikes in March, reversing pandemic-era policies that have fueled hiring and growth — and stock market gains — but also stubbornly high inflation.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Moderna has begun testing an omicron-specific COVID-19 booster in healthy adults. The company announced Wednesday that the first participant had received a dose.

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Avenatti jumped at the chance to represent porn star Stormy Daniels in 2018, saying he’d do it for a dollar, another California attorney testified Wednesday at Avenatti's criminal trial.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (20,595.89, up 4.91 points.) Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up 50 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to $35.36 on 11.9 million shares.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index gave up early gains but still posted a small increase as crude oil prices hit a more than seven-year high and the central bank kept its key interest rate in check.

GENEVA (AP) — Pablo, meet Crypto.

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a measure to ban new oil and gas wells and phase out existing ones.

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says Canada produced just over 1.1 million light vehicles last year for the lowest level of production since 1967. The low production numbers, down from 1.

GATINEAU, Que. — Canada's broadcasting regulator says a prominent Dark Web marketplace has been taken off-line after it levied $300,000 in fines against four individuals linked to the business.

TORONTO — International technology conference Collision says it will return to hosting an in-person event this year in Toronto.