Limo firm books ticket for Big Apple

A fast-growing Glasgow chauffeur company is expanding into the fiercely competitive limousine market in New York City. Thebookingroom owns a fleet of 50 vehicles in Scotland and London.

A clear path towards easy profit

In this week’s SME Focus, we look at the case of an American technophile who has made a successful business in Scotland by helping demystify technology.

	Hunter takes Tesco to court over Dobbies rights issue
	Sir Tom Hunter, Scotland's richest man, is going to court to try to stop supermarket behemoth Tesco diluting his power at Dobbies Garden Centres.

Clydesdale Bank lifts earnings despite credit crunch hit

Clydesdale Bank owner National Australia Bank (NAB) lost around £15m from the effects of the credit crunch over the last six months, it revealed yesterday, but still succeeded in posting pre-tax profit of £194m, up 17% on the year before.

Pound falls on interest

The pound tumbled on the foreign exchanges yesterday, as traders bet the Bank of England would have to cut benchmark UK interest rates again as soon as economic conditions deteriorate.

Clive Ramsay is eating up the competition

Saturday interview: Clive Ramsay, the food retailer, has come a long way from the days of selling potatoes out of a van.

Headhunter bolsters financial sector team

Edinburgh headhunting firm Fletcher Jones is beefing up its core financial sector expertise with the recruitment of Alistair Crawford, who headed operations in the Scottish capital and Manchester for rival Jonathan Wren.

Recruiter obtains court order against former employees

A leading Scottish recruitment company has obtained a court order against two former employees after a surveillance operation caught them using confidential client information.

SVM doubles pre-tax profits in wake of push into retail market

SVM Asset Management, the Edinburgh fund group, more than doubled pre-tax profits last year from £1.2m to £2.6m, as a successful push into the retail market restored its momentum.

Carphone Warehouse customers in for not-so-rude awakening

The diary: There was an immediate sign of the changing times at Carphone Warehouse after the company sold half of its retail business to US electronics giant Best Buy this week.

Airport authority promotes Edinburgh high-flier

BAA, the Spanish-owned company that operates Scotland's three main air terminals, said yesterday it has appointed David Johnston - currently managing director of Edinburgh Airport - as group procurement director.

Festival Inns records loss for second year running

Festival Inns, the Edinburgh-based leisure empire owned by entrepreneur Kenneth Waugh, has posted a second successive annual loss. However, it says the pub smoking ban has been "on the whole positive".

EDF bid for British Energy put at under 700p a share

EDF, the state-controlled French utility, made a takeover offer yesterday for British Energy, the UK's nuclear power provider.

Olympic victory for Aggreko

Temporary power company Aggreko has won the contract to supply the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympics, it was announced yesterday.

Testing times for motorists out to drive down cost of insurance

Plans to toughen the driving test announced this week could eventually cut car insurance costs for all drivers - but only if insurers change their charging habits.

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