Scottish Business Briefing - Tuesday 20 March, 2012
ECONOMICS
Scots cities slide down chart of the world’s top financial centres
SCOTLAND’S two biggest cities have slipped further down the rankings of a global financial centres index as the country struggles to overcome the damage to its reputation caused by the financial crisis (Scotsman).
Cheaper loans used in latest salvo against independence
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Hide AdSMALL and medium-sized businesses across the UK are to be given the chance to take out cheap loans in a new government-backed £20 billion scheme aimed at encouraging economic growth (Scotsman).
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Energy Assets helps reverse flow as it reveals float plans
Scotland will gain its first listed company for more than nine months on Thursday after Livingston-based gas meter manager Energy Assets unveiled plans to float (Scotsman).
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Cup takes a slice of city centre life
Cup, the Glasgow purveyor of tea and cupcakes, is expanding from the fashionable West End into the city centre with the aim of capturing a share of the night-time market (Herald).
RETAIL
Debenhams sees ‘resilient’ sales
Sales at Debenhams rose slightly in the past six months, helped by “resilient” trading since the turn of the year (BBC).
TECHNOLOGY
Iomart profits surge sparking talk of fresh takeover interest
PROFITS at Iomart, the Glasgow-based website hosting and IT company, have nearly doubled in the past year, sparking talk of it becoming a takeover target (Scotsman).