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Economy & Markets

Amid new EU warning...

Early US trade talks raise hopes for Scottish exports

James Macsween
James Macsween: new deal with US Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to open trade talks with the US in a move that should include recent tariffs on Scottish exports.Read More

SME finance

Banks rein in lending amid concerns of slowdown

Bank of England
Banks are keen to avoid a build up of debt (pic: Terry Murden) Banks have reduced their lending to smaller firms amid concerns of a slowdown in the economy. NewRead More

Report on transparency

Audit Scotland attacks failure to measure City Deals spending

Caroline Gardner
Caroline Gardner: ‘opportunities may have been missed’ (pic: Terry Murden) Scotland’s public spending watchdog Audit Scotland has broadly supported the Scottish Government’s City Deals programme but has raised concern overRead More

Cost of living falls

Fall in inflation fuels interest rate speculation

Bank of England
The Bank of England meets this month (pic: Terry Murden) UK inflation sank to 1.3% last month, its lowest rate for more than three years, which is likely to fuelRead More

Markets

Interest rates; US-China deal; IndigoVision; William Hill

City of London
Another Bank of England policymaker has floated the idea of cutting the central bank’s main interest rate. Gertjan Vlieghe told the Financial Times he would consider voting for a rateRead More

FDI data

Investors defy Brexit fears to create more jobs in Scotland

Derek Mackay in Glasgow
Derek Mackay visiting the Barclays development in Glasgow (pic: Terry Murden) Scotland remains poised to benefit from further inward investment despite Britain’s exit from the EU as it holds onRead More

Escalation of conflict

Investors fret as Iran launches attacks on two US bases

crowds at Iran funeral
Thousands gathered for the funeral of Qasem Soleimani Iranian missile strikes on two US bases in Iraq overnight prompted a spike in the oil price and more selling on globalRead More

SNH director hired

Halfhide takes interim role at South of Scotland Enterprise

Nick Halfhide
Nick Halfhide: listening (pic: Scottish Natural Heritage) An interim chief executive has been appointed to the new agency which is regenerating the south of Scotland’s economy. Nick Halfhide,  director ofRead More

Markets

Stocks rally, oil slips as investors re-assess Iran risk

crowds at Iran funeral
Tens of thousands gathered for the funeral of Qasem Soleimani in Tehran Brent crude fell and stock markets rallied as investors re-assessed the level of risk over the Iran crisis.Read More

Data on the Scottish economy and beyond

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