Red tape report is positive start, says Swinney

Finance minister John Swinney welcomed the findings of a report into red tape in Scotland which he said would signal the start of a new, more productive approach to regulation, featuring much better co-operation between business and government.

Nautronix lands £44m Norwegian contract

Nautronix, the marine technology arm of oil tycoon Ian Suttie's business empire, has landed a £44m contract for its NasDrill deep-water positioning system.

Overseas markets boost figures at Glenmorangie

Profits leaped at Glenmorangie last year as the company received a lift from the booming popularity of malt whisky overseas and investment in new lines.

Banking giant HSBC reveals 28% fall in profits

HSBC today revealed a 28% fall in first-half profits as the impact of US bad debts and credit crunch losses continued to weigh on the banking giant.

PODCAST INTERVIEW: Enjoying life’s rich bouquet

After winning caps for Scottish schools and the under 19s, Hamish Martin was looking forward to a successful rugby career until a chance encounter with a portly opponent in 1990 changed the young army officer cadet’s life irrevocably.

Royal Bank set for record loss

Investors are awaiting nervously this week’s continuing health check on the UK banking sector, with the Royal Bank of Scotland set to report the biggest loss in UK banking history.

	Grand designs for Highland outfitters
	Three brothers who branched out from the family hotel into Highland outfitting are now moving into children’s furniture with a Scotland-wide franchise.

Industry sounds warning over viability of new pension scheme

Scottish insurers are warning that the proposed national pension scheme being created by the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (Pada) will damage retirement saving and put another burden on the taxpayer.

	Fed expected to keep US rates on hold
	Analysis: The Federal Reserve is expected to keep US interest rates steady, despite ominous signs that inflation is taking a hefty bite out of household budgets while economic growth remains stagnant.

Hoping the MPC looks on the bright side of life

With doom and gloom all around, but summer trying periodically to burst through, it must be time to look for some positive issues to discuss. Given that all the economic data and analysis, domestic and international, remain deeply depressing, the only scope for the positive lies in assessing the future.

Brian Binnie: Stone was his destiny

SME Business Focus: Steep rises in the price of agricultural commodities may be hurting consumers who are seeing the price of basics such as bread soaring but will be welcomed by the UK’s farmers.

Centrica eyes revival of energy merger

British Gas owner Centrica will this week sound out shareholders about reviving plans for a £22bn all-share merger with British Energy, it was reported yesterday.

Centrica to revive merger with British Energy

Scottish Gas owner Centrica could revive plans for a £22 billion all-share merger with British Energy, it was reported today. Centrica will sound out its major shareholders over the possible move after nuclear power firm British Energy's £12 billion takeover by French giant EDF collapsed on Friday.

	Key HBOS staff defect to Tesco Personal Finance
	Bank of Scotland and Halifax owner HBOS is losing the operations director of its massive retail banking business, Shaun Doherty, to former main board director Benny Higgins at Tesco Personal Finance, The Herald has learned.

Alliance & Leicester profits wiped out by credit crunch

Alliance & Leicester today said the credit crunch turmoil had almost completely wiped out profits in the first six months of the year.

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