Scottish Business Briefing - Friday 27 May, 2011

WELCOME to scotsman.com's Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today.

BANKING & INSURANCE

Airdrie's on the move with branch in Falkirk

Airdrie Savings Bank will announce today that its first branch outside Lanarkshire will be in Falkirk. The long-anticipated expansion out of its core area follows plans announced in March last year that it would be adding to its seven branches in and around its local base (Scotsman)

Lloyds staff in City summit as Branson declares hand

LLOYDS Banking Group summoned several hundred branch managers to a top-level meeting in London's Docklands yesterday amid growing worries over the future ownership of the network (Scotsman).

Read all today's banking news from scotsman.com

ECONOMY

House prices back where they were 4 years ago

THE average Scottish house has failed to gain any value over the past four years - and the price has actually dropped by 1,000. Property prices are now almost identical to what they were at the start of 2007, according to the latest Scottish House Price Monitor from Lloyds TSB Scotland (Scotsman).

Read all today's economics news from scotsman.com

FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Food industry and universities in 10m research investment plan

Scotland's food and drink sector has today received a 10 million investment boost thanks to a new tie-up between industry and academia. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) said 17 institutions would be taking part in the Scottish Universities Industry Innovation Network for Food and Drink (Scotsman).

Read all today's food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com

INDUSTRY

Sub firm awarded Swedish repairs contract

A SUBMARINE rescue specialist which is based in Renfrew has been hired to complete an 11 million revamp of a Swedish navy rescue vehicle. James Fisher Defence will use its facility in the town to complete a refit of the vehicle, known as URF (Herald).

Read all today's industry news from scotsman.com

TECHNOLOGY

Lifescan showing healthy figures

LIFESCAN Scotland, a diabetic-monitoring device supplier, saw full-year sales and profits increase amid highly competitive trading conditions, the group's latest set of accounts have revealed (Herald).

Read all today's technology news from scotsman.com