Scottish Business Briefing - Wednesday 10 August, 2011

ECONOMY

FTSE up 1.9%, but 'fractured' market may lead to decline

London shares swung violently yesterday before closing up sharply as disappointing manufacturing and trade data added to the increasingly uncertain outlook on the economy (Scotsman).

Read all today's economics news from scotsman.com

ENERGY & UTILITIES

BP readies for major North Sea projects

THE head of BP's North Sea business said the oil and gas giant expects to approve three more huge projects off Scotland this year despite the Budget's tax hike (Herald).

Read all today's energy and utilities news from scotsman.com

FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Greggs suffers slowdown in sales

BAKERY chain Greggs has revealed a slowdown in sales growth after the squeeze in consumer spending dulled the nation's appetite for its pies and rolls (Scotsman).

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

INDUSTRY

'There is no long-term viability' says Dawson chairman

THE chairman of cashmere knitwear firm Dawson International yesterday cast doubt on the long-term viability of the firm as talks with its trustees and regulators over the company's pension deficit threatened to drag on (Scotsman).

Crowded legal market facing 'very tough' times

COMMERCIAL law firm Burness has raised the warning flag over conditions in Scotland's embattled legal market, cautioning that there is no prospect of improvement in the "short to medium term" (Scotsman).

Read all today's industry news from scotsman.com

PERSONAL FINANCE

One in three Scots now staring into cost-of-living black hole

Scottish households are increasingly worried about the impact of inflation on their finances as incomes are ravaged by higher prices(Scotsman).

Read all today's personal finance news from scotsman.com