China’s surprise rate cut does not deflect Bank from steady course
China’s central bank yesterday cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2008 in a surprise move, as British policymakers held back from pumping more cash into the flagging UK...
View ArticleM&S chief awarded £2.5m while retailer posted drop in profits
The boss of Marks & Spencer, Marc Bolland, was awarded a £2.5 million pay deal despite the retailer recording its first fall in profits in three years.While the total package is a marked reduction...
View ArticleTrap share placing raises £4.3m for Trent licence
Trap Oil, the Aim-quoted explorer that bought Banchory-based Reach Oil & Gas last year for £30 million, has raised £4.3m through a share placing.Cash generated through the placing will be used to...
View ArticleCentrica accord will run to 2013
Centrica and Norway’s Statoil yesterday said they have extended their agreement to work together to develop gas fields in UK and Norwegian waters until June 2013.An initial agreement signed in November...
View ArticleTimber emerges as rural boom industry
Figures released yesterday confirmed the Scottish timber industry is enjoying a boom time, with harvesting at its highest recorded level yet.The most recent figures show seven-and-a-half million cubic...
View ArticleTFF body set up to review rent practices
THE Tenant Farming Forum (TFF), which comprises of representatives from all the major organisations involved in the tenanted sector of Scottish landholding, yesterday announced the establishment of an...
View ArticleMarkets: FTSE up, but rates boost loses steam
TRADERS’ optimism following a surprise cut in Chinese interest rates ebbed away towards the end of yesterday’s session after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gave few hints on whether more...
View ArticleSantos report may benefit Scots farmers
Members of the European Parliament agriculture committee are continuing to express their unhappiness with the commissions’ proposals on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), writes Andrew...
View ArticleBritish Banks ‘must take risks’ to aid recovery
BRITAIN’S banks need to start taking risks again to help kickstart the economic recovery, according to a senior figure at the Bank of England.Andy Haldane, whose role is to help prevent the financial...
View ArticleSpain to plead for bank bailout from Eurozone
SPAIN confirmed last night that it will ask for bank bailout from the Eurozone to rescue its stricken banks.The announcement, which did not include a figure for the size of the bailout requested, came...
View ArticleGame over for British talent if digital firms are forced to look abroad
EXPERTS in Scotland’s gaming industry are warning of a skills shortage less than two years after the collapse of Realtime Worlds, formerly the country’s leading light in the digital media...
View Article‘Shareholder spring’ hits Havelock Europa
IT’S rocked boardrooms from London to Edinburgh in recent weeks – now the shareholder spring appears be rising up in Dalgety Bay.Although the pay packages of directors at Fife-based stock market minnow...
View ArticleEnergy prospects inspire chairman
ENERGY procurement specialist Inspired Energy recently completed its first acquisition since it joined the AIM last year.The company, which also said it was enjoying strong organic growth in its last...
View ArticleJeff Salway: Growth bonds look like another flawed idea
IN A week almost unique in recent times for the absence of U-turns, the government instead offered up a reminder as to why it has been forced to abandon so many hastily drawn-up policies.So-called...
View ArticleJeff Salway: Pensions hit by record low annuity rates
THE financial decisions facing Scots on the brink of retirement are becoming increasingly complicated after fresh cuts to the pension income paid by annuities.The rates paid by annuities – used by the...
View ArticleMulberry bags 50% profit boost
THE new French boss of British success story Mulberry is set to make a fashionable entrance this week when he unveils a surge in profits.Bruno Guillon, who only joined as chief executive in March, is...
View ArticleFromer Scottish Widows duo offer advice on stocks without fat cat fees
TWO former directors from Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (Swip) are launching an advisory firm to rival fund management companies whose fees, they claim, are too high.Colin Beveridge and Kaori...
View ArticleTesco troubles mount as overseas restrictions hinder hypermarkets
TESCO’S troubles appear to be spreading to its overseas operations, adding pressure on chief executive Phil Clarke’s turnaround plan.The supermarket giant unveils first quarter trading figures...
View ArticleGlasgow-based Organic Digital to give students taste of working life
ORGANIC Digital, the Glasgow-based web development agency, is to play a key role in a pilot scheme that could lead to hundreds of students being given one-on-one business mentoring.The University of...
View ArticleBill Jamieson: Another knight at the opera, but plus ça change
WHAT goes round comes round – and round and round. Last Friday brought business figures to Holyrood for the latest annual Business in the Parliament Conference. The title of the event was “The...
View Article