High street rush too little, too late for shops sector
	Beleaguered retailers have reaped some benefit from the positioning of Christmas, with shopper numbers increasing 13.6% on Monday compared to the same day in 2007, but analysts are still predicting the worst festive season for many years.

Scots entrepreneurial spirit still thriving

Johnston Carmichael, Scotland's biggest independent accounting firm, has warned that businesses north of the border are becoming increasingly concerned that the frugal attitude of banks is impacting their operations - but the group insists the entrepreneurial spirit has continued to thrive.

SSE boosts customer numbers

Scottish & Southern Energy said yesterday it now had “nine million customers”, made up of 5.53 million electricity accounts and 3.47 million gas accounts.

Inverclyde defies trend as Scottish start-up numbers fall 11%

Inverclyde saw the biggest increase in business start-ups between the second and third quarters of this year, up from 50 to 70, as start-ups in Scotland fell by 16%, according to the latest figures from the Committee of Scottish Clearing Banks.

Oil explorer granted eight new offshore blocks

Dana Petroleum, the Scottish oil and gas explorer, said on yesterday it has received interests in eight new offshore blocks under four new production licences by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

	Aberdeen chief’s pay package tumbles
	Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, suffered a 22% cut in his remuneration in the investment house's last financial year but his resultant £2.4m package kept him among Scotland's top earners.

Retailers suffer amid continuing signs of weakness

UK retailers' shares suffered yesterday, with Argos parent Home Retail Group and department store chain Debenhams among the biggest percentage fallers, amid mounting evidence that cash-strapped consumers cannot deliver the customary festive lift.

G101 chain plunges into loss in tough trading conditions

G101, the off-licence chain owned by George King, the father of nightclub entrepreneur Stefan King, has fallen to a loss.

Sterling tumbles to fresh lows

The pound tumbled to fresh record lows against a basket of other currencies yesterday as two members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee warned deep cuts in UK interest rates would not be enough to solve the economy’s woes.

Economic downturn takes sparkle from Theo Fennell sales

Luxury jewellers Theo Fennell yesterday posted a half-year loss after the economic downturn took the sparkle off sales.

Coutts fights back over fresh attack on AIG losses

Coutts, the Royal Bank of Scotland-owned private bank, said yesterday it had still not received any communications from a group formed by Nectar loyalty card tycoon Sir Keith Mills to seek compensation for losses linked to troubled insurer AIG.

British Energy deal wins EU’s approval

EDF, the French state-controlled utility, won an important round in its long fight to take over Scottish-based British Energy after the European Commission yesterday cleared the £12.5bn take-over of Britain's main nuclear power operator.

ProStrakan signs licence and distribution deal for two key drugs in Canada

ProStrakan Group, the Scottish specialist pharmaceutical company, yesterday announced that it has signed an exclusive licence and distribution agreement with Paladin Labs for its Abstral and Sancuso products in Canada.

Ignis Asset closes Japan desk

Ignis Asset Management yesterday confirmed the closure of its Japan desk, the departure of fixed income head Joe McKenna and a wave of redundancies in its marketing operation.

Builder sees signs of recovery in housing market

One of the UK's largest housebuilders claims to see green shoots of confidence in the housing market follow- ing the sharp cuts in bank rates.

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