National Business

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England maintained its key U.K. interest rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% though it gave a broad hint that a reduction could be on the cards imminently as inflation falls towards its target.

TORONTO — A book about the legal implications of developing outer space has won the $60,000 Donner Prize.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former top executive for major Las Vegas casinos was sentenced to a year of probation Wednesday after admitting he allowed an illegal bookmaker to gamble millions of dollars at the MGM Grand and pay off debts in cash.

LONDON (AP) — Thousands of ride-or-die Taylor Swift fans who missed out on her U.S. concert tour last year or didn't want to buy exorbitantly priced tickets to see her again found an out-of-the-way solution: Fly to Europe.

MONTREAL — Power Corp. of Canada says its net earnings for the first quarter were $709 million, up from $313 million a year earlier. The Montreal-based management and holding company says net earnings per share were $1.

TORONTO — Manulife Financial Corp. says first quarter earnings were down from last year because of the effects of a major reinsurance deal.

SASKATOON — Nutrien Ltd. says it earned US$165 million in its first quarter, down 71 per cent from US$576 million a year earlier. The Saskatoon-based company says its sales totalled US$5.4 billion, down 12 per cent from US$6.

CHANNEL-PORT AUX BASQUES, N.L.

MONTREAL — WSP Global Inc. says it earned $126.8 million in the first quarter, up from $112.5 million a year earlier. The Montreal-based engineering company says revenues for the quarter were $3.6 billion, up from $3.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (22,259.16, down 31.46 points): Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Up 22 cents, or 0.78 per cent, to $28.50 on 16.9 million shares.