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Economy & Markets

No Brexit slowdown from overseas

9% rise in job creation from foreign investment

First Minister at Xilinx
First Minister at the opening of US firm Xilinx’s lab in Edinburgh   Inward investment into Scotland in 2017 produced 9% more jobs than in the previous year as theRead More

More time may be needed

Call to extend Brexit talks to ensure ‘smooth transition’

A “no deal” exit from Europe is vital for business and more time should be given to achieve an orderly departure if needed, according to Scottish analysis. The Fraser ofRead More

Scots among most concerned

SME confidence slides amid growing ‘No deal’ fears

Neil Findlay, Scottish Labour,
Neil Findlay: no surprise to see business confidence plummeting (pic: Terry Murden)   Scottish small business confidence has fallen sharply and businesses north of the border are amongst the mostRead More

Cost of living rises

Firms face £80m rates bill after inflation hits six month high

Money - own pic
Firms struggling with rising costs have reacted with alarm after the inflation rate soared unexpectedly to 2.7%. If this holds until next month, when the CPI figure is used toRead More

Key report on Brexit

Immigration ‘should favour highly skilled workers from anywhere’

Immigrant
Immigrants fill many skilled jobs in Britain (pic: Terry Murden)   A business group has accused the authors of a report on immigration rules in post-Brexit Britain of giving withRead More

Growth forecasts downgraded

Chancellor urged to avoid ‘business as usual’ Budget

Adam Marshall
Adam Marshall: ‘Chancellor must incentivise business’ (pic: Terry Murden)   The Chancellor has been warned that the Autumn Budget cannot be a ’business as usual’ affair after new data saidRead More

Latest official figures

Slight wage growth as jobless tally falls again

Unemployment continued to fall, dropping across the UK by 55,000 to 1.36 million, with the jobless rate at 4%

Markets

Debenhams falls on search for ‘options’

Debenhams
Debenhams shares yesterday plunged after weekend reports that the department store chain has called in KPMG to advise it over options.

EU negotiator lifts mood

Sterling strengthens as Barnier raises Brexit deal hopes

Michel Barnier
The pound strengthened on hopes of a Brexit breakthrough after comments by the EU's chief negotiator.

Windfall from Westminster

Ministers told: use £1bn to boost productivity

scottish economy
The Scottish government is being urged to invest a £1 billion windfall from Westminster ...