July’s drop in material prices offers modest inflation relief

A rare ray of hope on the UK inflation horizon emerged yesterday, when official data revealed producers' material and fuel costs fell unexpectedly in July for the first time since last August.

Barratt shares soar as Polaris increases its stake in builder

Barratt Developments saw its share price surge by as much as 34.6% yesterday after Polaris Capital Management raised its stake in the ailing housebuilder.

	Retail sales suffer another poor month
	The value of UK retail sales in July was up only 1.7% on the same month last year, the third-poorest annual growth rate in the industry's own monthly figures since spring 2006, the British Retail Consortium will reveal today.

One explosive mixture is forgotten at our peril

Alf Young on Tuesday: During crude oil’s brisk ascent to its July price peak of $147.27 a barrel, any war in the Caucasus or an earlier dissident strike against a key oil and gas pipeline route to the West would almost certainly have pushed that record even higher.

Widening trade in goods deficit adds more misery to UK

The UK's trade in goods deficit widened slightly during June as demand for British goods in overseas markets weakened, official figures showed yesterday, providing more gloomy news for Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.

Major finance boost for recycling start-up

A veteran of the Scottish chemicals industry has won backing from financiers for an attempt to cash-in on retailers' desire to boost their green credentials by using recycled food packaging.

	Slight easing of mortgage costs
	The cost of taking out a two-year, 75% loan-to-value, fixed-rate mortgage in the UK fell from an eight-year high of 6.6% in June to 6.36% last month, figures from the Bank of England revealed yesterday.

Parsons wins £1.5m Babcock contract

Parsons Peebles Generation has won a £1.5m order from Babcock Marine at Rosyth, linked to Babcock's major aircraft carrier contract.

Tensions in Caspian hit crude price

Curde oil futures gyrated on global markets yesterday, falling below $115 a barrel as traders monitored fighting between Russia and Georgia that disrupted some exports from the Caspian region.

Sterling falls to 21-month low against the dollar

Sterling took a beating on the currency markets yesterday, tumbling to a 21-month low against the dollar as continuing concerns about the health of the UK economy undermined sentiment.

Factory gate prices soar

There was mixed news on the inflation front today with official factory gate prices rising at their fastest rate since records began but producer cost pressures easing for the first time in a year.

	UK manufacturing ‘on brink of recession’, says major survey
	UK manufacturing is on the brink of recession, amid further worrying signals of deterioration of the private sector economy in Scotland.

Rejected EDF has more irons in fire

Analysis: British Energy still hopes to strike a takeover deal with EDF, but the cash-rich French utility has a number of other options it could pursue if negotiations with the East-Kilbride-based nuclear power generator collapse.

Subsea group names Birnie its big fish

The organisation which champions the UK’s £4bn subsea oil and gas industry has appointed Alistair Birnie to the post of chief executive.

Sound culture crucial in difficult conditions

Culture and vision may not be top of the boardroom agenda in a looming recession, but organisation development specialist Myron Partnership believes they are the key to survival.

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