WELCOME to scotsman.com’s Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today.
TECHNOLOGY
Scots IT sector on the rise as cloud computing firm puts down roots
SCOTLAND’S £4 billion IT industry will receive a boost today when a Swedish “cloud computing” company that lists BAE Systems, the Oslo stock exchange and law firm Pinsent Masons among its clients unveils plans to create 50 jobs ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/technology/scots-it-sector-on-the-rise-as-cloud-computing-firm-puts-down-roots-1-2338993|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/technology|Read all today’s technology news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s technology news from scotsman.com}
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Shell chief forecasts weakening in oil prices as tensions ease
OIL prices will weaken further in the second half of this year as demand reacts to a slowing global economy, while international political tensions ease, Shell chief executive Peter Voser yesterday forecast ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/shell-chief-forecasts-weakening-in-oil-prices-as-tensions-ease-1-2338997|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
Scots firm buys US rival to boost overseas presence
SCOTTISH company Integrated Environmental Solutions, which provides software and consulting services to help customers deliver low-energy-consuming buildings and communities, has acquired North American sector stablemate BVM Engineering in a £1 million-plus deal ({http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/scots-firm-buys-us-rival-to-boost-overseas-presence.17793485|Herald|Herald}.
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/energy-and-utilities|Read all today’s energy and utilities news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s energy and utilities news from scotsman.com}
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Scotch whisky firm, Diageo, to invest £1bn
The drinks giant Diageo has announced it is to invest £1bn in Scotch whisky production over the next five years. The company said it would build a new distillery in the Speyside area and would draw up plans for a second if the global appetite for Scotch continues ({http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-18336994|BBC|BBC}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/food-drink-and-agriculture|Read all today’s food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com}
INDUSTRY
Pipeline company wins 10-year Qatargas deal
North-east pipeline engineering company STATS Group has landed its biggest contract to date – a multimillion-pound Middle Eastern deal with Qatargas. The 10-year agreement with the largest liquefied natural gas producer in the world involves providing remote pipeline isolation equipment ({http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2798948|P&J|P&J}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/industry|Read all today’s industry news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s industry news from scotsman.com}
RETAIL
Steadying food inflation rate set to help shoppers
FOOD prices stabilised last month as the cost of raw materials and crude oil declined, providing some relief to under-pressure consumers. Today’s latest shop price index shows the UK’s annual food inflation rate holding steady at 4.3 per cent in May, unchanged from April’s figure ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/steadying-food-inflation-rate-set-to-help-shoppers-1-2338995|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail|Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com}