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Threshers

Almost 2,000 jobs shed by off-licence chain Threshers

Administrators of Threshers owner First Quench have announced another swathe of store closures and more than 1,900 job losses.

OECD forecast predicts slow expansion for UK economy

The UK economy will expand by 1.2% next year and 2.2% in 2011, according to projections from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development which are far less rosy than those from the Bank of England and Treasury.

Also in this section

Markets & Economy

Lending brake by troubled banks ‘could stall recovery’

Scotland’s eventual economic recovery could be held back if the taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group’s own financial troubles make them particularly reluctant to lend, Strathclyde University’s respected Fraser of Allander Institute has warned.

Barratt sees rise in demand as market recovers

Baratt Developments yesterday added to increasing evidence that the housing market is recovering.

Havelock shares down after second profits warning

Shares in Havelock Europa have plunged back to their level of a year ago after the Fife-based group issued the year’s second profits warning and house broker Investec said the dividend might be halved.

Corporate & SME

City superwoman loses grip on fund

One-time City “superwoman” Nicola Horlick finally lost control of her flagship Bramdean Alternatives fund yesterday after Aberdeen Asset Management bought out the contract to run it.

Highland Spring toasts £17.5m Irish deal

Water company Highland Spring has boosted its output by 50% with the £17.5m acquisition of Dublin-based Greencore Group’s bottled water division, the biggest purchase in the company’s 30-year history.

Morrison predicts continued growth after boss quits

British grocer Morrison said the surprise departure of chief executive Marc Bolland to Marks & Spencer would not affect its performance or potential as it reported a slowdown in sales growth.

Personal Finance

Bank announces ‘fee-free’ account

Spanish banking giant Santander is set to launch an assault on the current account market with the introduction of a fee-free account available to mortgage customers.

Mathewson: difficult for RBS to be run from Scotland in future

Former Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Sir George Mathewson has warned that it will be “difficult” for the institution to be run from Scotland in future.

Stock wagon keeps rolling – for now

Is it too late to get on the stock-market bandwagon?

Analysis

Morrisons must up game as rivals pull out the stops to lure shoppers

Sir Ian Gibson, chairman of supermarket chain Wm Morrison was desperate to avoid questions about the departure of chief executive Marc Bolland to Marks & Spencer when the company unveiled its latest trading numbers yesterday.

Rift over the £25bn question

The chief economist of the Bank of England, Spencer Dale, opposed the latest £25bn increase in the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street’s boost to the UK money supply two weeks ago because of worries about inflation and asset price bubbles.