AFP – OSLO (AFP) – Shipowners are showing growing interest in a fabled trade route to Asia which climate change is beginning to open up at last as polar ice recedes.

The Canadian Press – QUEBEC – Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., Canada’s fourth-biggest insurer, said Friday it has acquired the life insurance policies of California-based Golden State Mutual for US$11 million.

Baystreet.ca –
The Toronto stock market was positive Friday morning as U.S. jobs data blew past expectations while investors took in a major deal in the gold sector.

The Canadian Press – WINNIPEG – A subsidiary of packaged ice company Arctic Glacier Income Fund (TSX:AG.UN) announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with authorities in Michigan to resolve allegations that it violated the state’s antitrust laws.

The Canadian Press – TORONTO – Canadians grew even more uncertain about their finances in August as job losses mounted, consumer prices rose and the U.S. economy appeared to remain on shaky ground, according to pollsters Harris-Decima.

AFP – WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama promised a fresh slew of measures to boost the ailing US economy Friday after fresh data showed unemployment was again on the rise.