World according to GAAP is holding back progress in US

Americans are increasingly recognising that clinging on to US accounting standards is hampering corporate and capital market competitiveness, according to Rob Ward, global head of assurance at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Bond Pearce has energy to beef up Scottish presence

Bond Pearce, the south-west England law firm, has outlined ambitious plans for growth north of the border following the poaching of a seven-strong team of energy lawyers from Scottish firm McGrigors in July.

Soap box: James Barbour

When it comes to auditing, we love to think that British is best – and undoubtedly the UK auditing profession is at the forefront of global practice.

	SMG suffers profits slump and new asset writedown
	SMG chief executive Rob Woodward insisted the company's recovery plan is "bang on track" yesterday, despite a slump in profits and another write-down in the value of plum asset Virgin Radio.

AstraZeneca hires Lowth to take charge of finances

Simon Lowth, former ScottishPower chief executive Ian Russell's right-hand man in a brutal boardroom cull at the electricity company in September 2005, has been appointed chief financial officer of global pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca.

Shares tumble at troubled DA Group

Shares in DA Group plunged almost 6% yesterday after the Scottish character animation software and services pioneer said it may be running out of money and that it might not survive much longer.

Worldwide from the Clyde

Saturday Interview - Stewart Davis: Apprenticed 45 years ago at British Polar Engines, both he and the firm are still going strong, hears Ron Clark.

ABN Amro takeover battle enters the final stages

The Royal Bank of Scotland consortium bidding for ABN Amro yesterday reserved the right to waive a condition that its offer must receive acceptances from shareholders holding at least 80% of its bid target, were it to win straight majority control.

Law Society promises recommendations

The governing body for Scottish solicitors has pledged to issue landmark recommendations by the end of February which could trigger a revolution in the way legal services are delivered in Scotland.

	Scotland urged to ‘sweep away’ closed shop in legal services
	The Office of Fair Trading will today urge Scotland’s 10,000 lawyers to embrace greater competition or face being “left behind” by English competitors.

Dunsmore to succeed Froggatt as S&N chief executive

Scottish & Newcastle was yesterday seen as strengthening its immediate independent future as it appointed John Dunsmore, 48, a former drinks industry analyst, to succeed its chief executive Tony Froggatt, 59, in barely a month's time.

Beckham’s Footwork falters, but it’s all relative

David Beckham’s extraordinary earning power diminished last year for the second year running, new figures suggest. However, the former England football captain is unlikely to be too worried, following his subsequent megabucks transfer to US soccer.

Rolls wins huge order from BA fleet expansion

Rolls-Royce has won a multi-billion dollar order to supply engines for British Airways' expanding fleet of long-haul planes that should safeguard the jobs of 2300 staff in central Scotland for years.

OECD predicts UK rate

The Bank of England may have to cut UK interest rates because recent financial turbulence and higher borrowing costs pose a threat to the housing market and overall growth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said yesterday.

Rosyth shows £5m operating deficit

Rosyth Royal Dockyard, awaiting work from the multi-billion-pound government order for two new aircraft carriers, plunged to an operating loss of more than £5m last year.

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