News

The accounting deficit of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes for the UK’s 350 largest listed companies increased by £10 billion in just five days, from £139 billion at the end of July to £149 billion on 4 August, following the MPC vote to cut the Bank Rate from 0.5 per cent to 0.25 per cent.

Brian Williamson Brian Williamson is managing director at Edinburgh-based R&D tax relief specialist Jumpstart.

The value of sales in the Scottish commercial property market increased by £200 million in Q2 2016 to £819 million, despite a 13 per cent fall in investment values, to £382 million.

Ross McEwan Royal Bank of Scotland subsidiary NatWest has announced its standard variable rate (SVR) for mortgages will be reducing by 0.25 per cent in line with the Bank of England base rate reduction, bringing the rate for customers from 4 per cent down to 3.75 per cent.

Edinburgh-based Standard Life Investments saw wholesale net outflows of £400 million representing 2 per cent of AUM standing at £47.3 billion, according to its half year results published today.

Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, home of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Homeowners who live near stadiums belonging to Scottish Premiership football teams are are experiencing a property boom, according to new figures.

Craig Nelson Keeping track of decisions being taken will be crucial under the SMCR, writes Craig Neilson, a partner with Maclay Murray & Spens LLP.

A Natwest customer has spoken of how she was defrauded of more than £100,000 in a so-called ‘vishing’ scam carried out over a three day period.

Aberdeen-based accountancy firm Anderson Anderson Brown has announced that the firm has been shortlisted for the 2016 Payroll World Awards in the categories of Best Employer in Payroll, Payroll Provider of the Year and Auto-Enrolment Engagement of the Year.

ICAS has announced a new sponsorship arrangement with Royal Bank of Scotland that will see RBS become a partner for the ICAS Practice Community.

The Scottish Loan Fund and Maven Capital Partners have exited its investment in Cumbernauld-based manufacturer and supplier of furniture, presentation products, toys and activity equipment for the education sector, Spaceright.

Business confidence fell following the UK’s vote for Brexit, and is now at its lowest in over three years, according to the latest Business Trends Report by accountants and business advisers BDO.

Scotland’s private sector experienced a downturn at the start of the third quarter, with output returning to contraction territory.

The overall rate of personal insolvencies in Scotland, which include both bankruptcies and protected trust deeds, has decreased by a quarter in the last financial year from 25.13 per 10,000 adults to 19, according to latest figures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yFipEjDxMI Following last week’s news that Bank of Scotland is to close 23 more branches north of the border, the Edinburgh-based lender has pledged to introduce extra mobile services in the north and north-east of the country.