News

The number of mortgages given out by UK banks has dropped to its lowest level for nearly five years, according to new industry figures.

Pension savers last year withdrew £6.5 billion using the freedoms introduced in 2015, an almost £1 billion increase on the £5.7bn taken out in 2016, according to latest data released this week by HM Revenue and Customs.

Dundee-based investment firm Alliance Trust has sold more than four million shares in Liontrust Asset Management, netting around £21 million on the deal.

More than £200,000 worth of deposits have been left unclaimed by Edinburgh tenants and for the first time anyone who thinks they might be owed money can check what they’re due at Scotland’s first ever ‘deposit clinic’.

Aberdeen-headquartered subsea company Enpro Subsea has secured investment from EV Private Equity (EV) to grow its business as a new report reveals growth confidence within the oil and gas industry has risen globally from 32 per cent in 2017 to 63 per cent this year.

Clackmannanshire Council must take “urgent and decisive action” to sort out its financial problems as it faces making savings of £29 million over the next three years, the Accounts Commission has warned today.

Artist’s impression of an Argyll landscape with the planned turbines A £11.4 million investment from Triodos Bank has provided funds to Fyne Homes to build a three-turbine development in Argyll and Bute that aims to generate £15.6 million of community and charitable benefit over the next 20 year

l-r: Linsey Munro (HIE), Steven Harris (Hydrasun), Peter Elbourne (Hydrasun), Karen Peasnall (HIE), Morven Gibson (South West Mull and Iona Development) and Louise Macdonald (HIE). Missing from this photo is Robbie Rapson, although an individual photo of him is attached below.

Eric Curran Eric Curran, managing partner of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, based in the firm’s Glasgow North office, talks about how the Scottish property market is shaping up in 2018.

Mary Sharpe The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) wrote to the chairs of the FTSE 100 and other large companies last month stating it will take legal action where there is evidence of systemic failure to prevent, or deal with, sexual harassment.

The impact of the liquidation of Carillion could cause a potential domino effect on Scottish businesses resulting in further insolvencies in the months to come, according to accountants and business advisers French Duncan.

RBS will move the majority of its London staff to 250 Bishopsgate Royal Bank Scotland is to leave its main base within the City of London by the end of next year, in the latest instalment of its relentless cost-cutting strategy.

Jamie Hepburn The number of people in employment in increased by 7,000 between September and November 2, with 2,662,000 people in employment in Scotland.

Tim Cooper The number of personal insolvencies (bankruptcies and protected trust deeds) in Scotland rose by 9 per cent in between October and December compared to the previous quarter, and by 2 per cent year-on-year, according to latest Accountant in Bankruptcy figures.

Keith Brown Scotland’s international exports (excluding oil and gas) increased by £460 million to £29.8 billion in 2016, with the 1.6 per cent rise driven by financial and insurance services, according to latest official figures.