Scottish Business Briefing - Thursday February 2, 2012
ECONOMICS
Manufacturing upturn eases fears of double-dip recession hitting UK
UPBEAT manufacturing data on both sides of the Atlantic yesterday bucked the broader global trend for falling factory output, easing fears of a double-dip recession in the UK (Scotsman).
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Stork flying: Engineering group to unveil £25m contract
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Hide AdSTORK Technical Services, the Netherlands-based engineering firm, will today unveil a £25 million North Sea contract that will create 30 jobs at the company’s Scottish operations (Scotsman).
Shell profits rise on higher oil prices
Royal Dutch Shell has reported a rise in profits as the oil giant continues to benefit from higher oil prices (BBC).
INDUSTRY
Avondale opens £20m recycling and biofuel plant
A new £20 million re-cycling plant will create 70 jobs and process 200,000 tonnes of waste a year when it is fully operational (Herald).
RETAIL
High street stages a mini fightback but discounts cost stores dear
Scottish stores enjoyed a late festive sales boom as shoppers snapped up cut-price deals, official figures have shown (Scotsman).
TECHNOLOGY
AstraZeneca to cut a further 7,300 jobs
AstraZeneca has announced a further 7,300 job cuts over the next two years as part of a new restructuring programme to save $1.6bn (£1bn) a year. The UK’s second-largest drugs firm has 61,000 staff globally of which 8,000 are in the UK (BBC)