Winning of Airbus contracts lifts spirits at Prestwick

Scotland’s advanced aerospace capability and 750 jobs have been safeguarded with two major contract wins for Spirit AeroSystems at Prestwick.

Strong dollar and Hurricane Bertha flatten the price of oil

The price of black gold tumbled by more than $4 yesterday as traders took the view that Hurricane Bertha looked unlikely to hit the Gulf of Mexico, the centre of the all-important US oil refining industry.

BT to lay fibre-optic cable from Orkney to Thurso

BT is laying a fibre-optic submarine cable between Orkney and the Scottish mainland. The 70-kilometre cable will run from Skaill Bay in Orkney, under the Pentland Firth, to Dunnet Bay, about five miles east of Thurso.

Second-half trading helps keep Murgitroyd on the right track

Murgitroyd, the European patent and trademark attorney practice, yesterday confirmed that trading for the second half of the financial year has kept the Scottish Alternative Investment Market-listed business on track to meet market expectations.

Rangers and Hearts recognised at CommunityMark awards

Glasgow Rangers and Heart of Midlothian football clubs are among five smaller Scottish businesses to be recognised in the first CommunityMark awards, developed by Business in the Community.

Omega has the stomach for takeover trail

Clackmannanshire-based Omega Diagnostics has returned to profit thanks to the takeover of a food intolerance specialist and is determined to stay on the acquisition trail despite the market downturn.

Bradford & Bingley shares hit low

Bradford & Bingley shares fell by 16% yesterday to close at a record low of 42p, well below the 55p a share it is seeking in its increased £400m rights issue.

UK manufacturing on brink of recession

There was more evidence today of a worsening UK economy after official data showed a bigger than expected decline in manufacturing output.

Construction industry calls for ‘kick-start’

Scotland's builders have demanded government help in restoring industry morale after it was revealed that 60% of construction firms are concerned about the impact of a faltering economy on their businesses.

	Rosyth pension in surplus
	The pension fund for workers at Rosyth Royal Dockyard soared to a £4.3m surplus last year, just months after industrial unrest over increased contributions by workers.

Caution becomes the watchword at many small firms

Figures published today show that many small- and medium-sized companies are putting investment decisions on hold amid economic uncertainty.

Housebuilders cannot escape vicious circle

Analysis: Shares in the UK’s leading housebuilders are falling faster than a jerry-built bungalow, and City analysts say there is no end in sight to the bad news that has rocked the sector in past months.

Play economy blame game then move on

I have not felt as depressed about the domestic and global economic outlook for many a long year. Discussion is now turning to the vexed question of who is to blame.

Lawrie lifts turnover to £81m on rig work

Former rag-and-bone company John Lawrie Group last year turned over £81m and saw operating profits surge 10% to £4.5m as it capitalised on North Sea oil rig decommissioning and expansion overseas.

Of words and wooden wonders

SME Focus: In this week’s SME Focus, a veteran entrepreneur and former wordsmith for The Wombles explains why he decided to launch an upmarket furniture venture just as the credit crunch started to get nasty.

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