Scottish Business Briefing - Monday July 11, 2011

BANKING & INSURANCE

Buyers wait in wings for RBS, Lloyds assets sell-off

Britain's bailed-out banks could both be on course to sell assets in the months ahead after a top financier indicated he was preparing a bid for Royal Bank of Scotland's aircraft leasing arm (Scotsman).

Read all today's banking news from scotsman.com

ECONOMY

BCC director-general: Firms 'need more support' to maintain fragile recovery

BRITISH Chambers of Commerce director-general David Frost has demanded that the UK government gives more help to exporters as a report out today warns that Britain's economic recovery remains "fragile" (Scotsman).

Read all today's economics news from scotsman.com

FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Scottish super-strong beer-makers brewing up second share issue

INVESTORS from throughout Europe are to be given the chance to buy a stake in controversial beer company BrewDog, in a share issue that is expected to be announced later this week (Scotsman).

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

INDUSTRY

Southern Cross set to shut down and stop running homes

Landlords owning all 752 care homes in the Southern Cross Group have said they want to leave the group. "It is currently envisaged that the existing group will cease to be an operator of homes," an update on the restructuring process said (BBC).

Read all today's industry news from scotsman.com

RETAIL

Retailers set to show resilience despite economic headwinds

Strong performers such as Marks & Spencer, SuperGroup and Sports Direct are expected to bring some cheer to the retail sector when they update the market this week. However, inflation is expected to have remained at more than twice the Bank of England's target (Scotsman).

Read all today's retail news from scotsman.com

TECHNOLOGY

IT company Amor Group snaps up rival

AMOR Group, the Glasgow-based IT firm, has signalled its confidence in the global economic outlook by acquiring an English rival in a multi-million pound deal (Herald).

Read all today's technology news from scotsman.com