Dallas / Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co. reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates and said it would speed retirement of its oldest Boeing 737s to better manage pilot training for a new model of the plane. Earnings excluding some items climbed 88 cents a share, beating the 84-cent average of analyst estimates that were recently compiled. Sales rose 9.3 ...

  Bloomberg AutoNation Inc., the largest auto retailer in the US, reversed early-morning losses to reach a five-week high after convincing investors it can weather a plateau in new-vehicle sales and rebound from a quarter that missed analyst expectations. Shares in the dealership group rose 3 percent to $49.49 after touching $50.24, the highest intraday price since March 14. The ...

  Bloomberg Canada’s consumer is showing no signs of letting up. Retailers are off to the best start of the year since 2005, and consumer price pressures are stronger than anticipated, data show. That adds to evidence that households are leading a rebound in growth that’s on track to be among the fastest in the Group of Seven this year. ...