Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)'s first share buyback in more than six years adds to a 10-year high in Canadian capital repurchases as companies try to soften the blow of underperforming stock prices.

By Alastair Sharp. TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index reversed earlier losses on Friday after several stocks jumped on takeover moves, helping the TSX shrug off uncertainty over U.S.

Chile's environmental regulator has halted development of Barrick Gold Corp.'s $8.5-billion (U.S.) Pascua-Lama mine, dealing a fresh blow to the embattled project that is key to the growth plans of the world's largest gold miner.

Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris's deal to buy Allstream, sealed after a two-year pursuit, is likely the first step in a larger plan to create a new telecommunications competitor.

It may come as a surprise to many hardworking Americans, but governments in much of the developed world require employers to give employees varying amounts of paid vacation time.