Here's are the business stories making the headlines in Scotland and across the UK this morning.
UK economic growth rebounds in November
The UK's economy rebounded in November after shrinking during the previous month, according to official figures.
The economy grew by 0.3% in the month, which was stronger than expected and came after a contraction in October.
The Office for National Statistics said the bounce back was led by the services sector, with retail, car leasing and computer games firms all doing well.
However, it said the long-term picture was "one of an economy that has shown little growth over the last year".
Global trade in the crosshairs as Red Sea crisis rages
Out of stock. Those words may be coming back to haunt shoppers just as it appeared that supply chains were beginning to go back to normal.
The boss of shipping giant Maersk warned on Thursday that the “brutal and dramatic” disruption to shipping through the Red Sea caused by Houthi rebel attacks could last for months, raising fears of price rises and empty shelves.
Supermarket chiefs are once again warning about higher prices. Ken Murphy, boss of Tesco, said the disruption in the Suez Canal risked sending the price of some items higher. At Marks & Spencer, chief executive Stuart Machin is anticipating delays of new clothing and homeware items in February and March.
“We’re conscious of the costs and more importantly the availability of new ranges,” he said this week.
UK car finance: ‘millions of drivers could get payout’ as watchdog investigates
Millions of drivers could be in line for a payout, it has been claimed, after the UK financial watchdog opened an investigation into whether consumers had been unfairly charged inflated prices for loans on new and secondhand cars.
The Financial Conduct Authority said on Thursday that it had decided to examine whether a compensation scheme was needed to deal with alleged large-scale mis-selling in the £50bn-a-year motor finance sector.
Martin Lewis, a consumer champion, said the move could lead to “the new PPI” – a reference to the multibillion-pound payment protection insurance scandal.
High street banks such as Lloyds Banking Group, Santander and Barclays are – or have been – big players in the UK motor finance market. As with the PPI debacle, any finding of widespread mis-selling could result in car finance sellers facing big bills for compensating customers.
Aberdeen tech firm Xergy opens offices in Broughty Ferry and Australia
Aberdeen technology firm Xergy has opened an office in Broughty Ferry to tape into a “pool of development talent” on Tayside.
It also has a new base in Perth, Australia, up and running as the international rollout of its Proteus project management software continues.
The Broughty Ferry office is creating 10 new roles initially, taking Xergy’s total workforce to 34. More recruitment is planned.
Xergy also has a base in the United Arab Emirates.