Venture acquires Irish Sea stake

Venture Production has underlined its belief in the exploration potential of the east Irish Sea by farming into a big gas prospect in the area.

Lobby contests labelling of dairy produce as ‘junk’

The definition of junk food needs to be re-examined, as the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) nutrient profiling model (NPM) puts whole milk, yoghurt and cheese into this category.

Senator praises British troops

John McCain, the Republican candidate for the 44th US Presidency, yesterday warned that al Qaeda was “on the run but not defeated” in Iraq as he praised the long service and sacrifice of British troops in the region.

EBay to cut 125 jobs

Internet auctioneer eBay said yesterday it is cutting 125 jobs in Europe and North America, including 70 positions its headquarters in San Jose, California.

	FSA investigates potential abuses after run on HBOS shares
	Speculation that HBOS is on the verge of major funding problems saw its shares dip to a record low yesterday, prompting regulators to warn they would not tolerate the spreading of unfounded rumours.

Rentokil hires ICI team in fight for recovery

Pest control to parcel delivery firm Rentokil Initial is parachuting in the management team that turned around chemicals group ICI in a bid to recover from two profit warnings that have hammered its shares.

£20m windfall for Munro family as chemist chain is sold

Donald Munro has sold the eponymous pharmacy chain that was Scotland's biggest independent in a move that sources said likely netted the controlling family more than £20m.

MPC vote lifts expectations of early rate cut

An April cut in UK interest rates looked increasingly likely yesterday, although still far from certain, after Monetary Policy Committee minutes highlighted worries about credit market turmoil and revealed two members pushed unsuccessfully for an immediate reduction this month.

Rolls-Royce puts £4.5m into engine repair

Rolls-Royce, the aero-engine company, said yesterday it has selected its plant in East Kilbride for the repair and overhaul of the BR710 engines used in corporate and regional aircraft.

Helicopter Ben and the toothless FSA fairy

Alf Young on Thursday:Anyone who thinks that, at exceptional times like these, all market participants set aside self-interest to ensure the earliest return to general order and stability must still believe in the tooth fairy too.

Glasgow Chambers appoints new chief

The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce will today appoint leading economic development expert Richard Cairns as its new chief executive.

Northern Rock shareholders begin compensation battle

A group of Northern Rock's small shareholders, acting in cahoots with hedge fund SRM Global, yesterday sent a letter to the government in the first step of a legal action against compensation proposals for investors of the nationalised bank.

‘Bribe for snitches’ benefits consumers

The Office of Fair Trading's chairman, Philip Collins, yesterday defended the OFT's offer of £100,000 payments to "whistleblowers" who pass on inside company information about illegal cartels.

Economy pointer in record working figures

Unemployment in Scotland stands at its lowest level in 34 years - evidence that the economy north of the border remains buoyant despite the global credit crunch and turmoil in financial markets.

Profits up 50% at pawnbroker H&T

Pawnbroker H&T group saw its underlying pre-tax profit surge 52.5% to £7.2m in 2007 as its core pawnbroking services rose 17%.

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