Orkney tup tests positive for Smallenberg
IT WAS confirmed yesterday that a tup in Orkney has tested positive for the Smallenberg virus – representing a massive leap north for the disease, which entered the UK last year in the south-east of...
View ArticleBiofuels industry hits out at ‘unnaceptable’ EU plan
Farming organisations weighed in heavily yesterday against a new European Commission proposal that would initially reduce the cropping area devoted to growing biofuels. Copa-Cogeca, the European-wide...
View ArticleScottish Business Briefing – Thursday October 18th 2012
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.ECONOMICSScottish jobless-rate gap with UK...
View ArticleMadagascar plays to Pinkett-Smith’s maternal strengths
When you’re one half of a Hollywood power couple, it doesn’t hurt to embrace what little down time you get together.That’s why, rather than party hard for their September birthdays, Will Smith and Jada...
View ArticleBritvic sales hit by Fruit Shoot recall as Barr merger talks continue
Soft drinks group Britvic stayed tight-lipped yesterday on its £1.3 billion merger talks with Scots peer AG Barr as it posted lower annual revenues following the costly recall of a product and poor...
View ArticleCall for aid to ‘save’ £21bn construction industry in Scotland
Scotland’s £20 billion-plus construction sector requires “urgent action” to stimulate growth and protect thousands of jobs after a collapse in confidence.The demand from industry leaders came yesterday...
View ArticleMarkets: PPI claims surge hits Barclays shares
Shares in Barclays came under pressure after the bank flagged a further £700 million hit from the mis-selling of payment protection insurance, though the wider market held onto modest gains.Barclays...
View ArticleNew distillery in Speyside heads up £40m spend by Chivas
Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and gin arm of Pernod Ricard, has announced plans to build a further distillery in Speyside as part of its £40 million investment programme in Scotland to meet demand...
View ArticleBusiness news in brief: ARR Craib | Remy Cointreau | Mothercare
ARR Craib Transport boosted its turnover by 9 per cent to almost £39 million last year, despite the tough trading conditions.The Aberdeen firm benefited from the sustained buoyancy of the oil service...
View ArticleUK car industry hit by falling demand in Europe
Declining demand from mainland Europe put the brake on UK car production last month, figures yesterday revealed.There were 128,192 cars made in the UK in September 2012 – a 5.8 per cent fall on the...
View ArticleComment: Damning indictment of a watchdog that didn’t bark
IT SHOULD not have been necessary for a committee of MPs to force Britain’s chief regulator to publish details of its investigation into the near-collapse of RBS.This was a matter of utmost public...
View ArticleCall for rent rise restraint
With the time of year approaching when farm rents are reviewed, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association yesterday called on landlords to be “reasonable and exercise restraint” in negotiations this...
View Article‘Cheap’ government funds help Tesco start mortgage price war
TESCO Bank has sparked a possible mortgage price war by taking advantage of cheap government money to launch cut-price deals.Chief executive Benny Higgins unveiled what he called “market-leading rates”...
View ArticleOfcom to probe price rises on ‘fixed’ mobile contracts
CUSTORMER concerns over mid-contract price hikes imposed by phone and broadband companies are to be investigated by the telecoms watchdog.Ofcom is to consult on how to protect consumers after a review...
View ArticleBank lending ‘must support small firms’, say business leaders
Banks must “redouble their efforts” to ensure that funding filters down to small and medium-sized enterprises, business leaders said yesterday, after a sharp fall in lending. The Bank of England’s...
View ArticleWinter clothes shopping heats up high street sales
Shoppers buying winter clothing and school uniforms helped the wider retail sector enjoy a better-than-expected bounce-back to sales growth last month, according to official figures.Retail sales...
View ArticleBarley genome breakthrough
Scientists have this week confirmed they have unravelled the highly complex genetic make-up of barley, one of the major crops in Scotland, and with this detailed information they have promised to...
View ArticleBarclays’ bill for PPI mis-selling jumps to £2bn
The bill for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) at Barclays has soared to £2 billion, as claims against the banking giant continue to pile up.The embattled lender unveiled a further £700...
View ArticleGoogle shares suspended after fall
Google stunned Wall Street last night after its latest results – announced early by mistake – revealed weaker-than-expected sales and profits.Shares in the company, which had only recently overtaken...
View ArticleLadbrokes cashes in on good results despite fall in shop revenues
Over-the-counter bets staked by Ladbrokes customers fell by nearly 5 per cent over the summer as bad weather and the Olympic Games dented trade.The bookie still grew UK retail revenues by 5.4 per cent...
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