Here are the business stories making the headlines locally and across the country this morning.

Peak rail fares to be scrapped in Scotland over the summer

The scrapping of peak rail fares in Scotland will be extended by at least another three months in a boost for commuters.

John Swinney, the first minister, is expected to announce that the trial scheme, which was due to finish at the end of June, will continue over the summer.

Peak prices, which are roughly double the cost of off-peak fares, were scrapped in October and were seen as a key part of the Bute House agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Questions have been raised about whether the scheme would be maintained after Humza Yousaf sacked the Greens from government last month.

Motorists warned of petrol car shortages as net zero targets loom

Car salesmen face a shortage of petrol vehicles under Rishi Sunak’s net zero crackdown, one of Britain’s biggest dealership chains has warned.

Vertu Motors said sales of electric cars had “stalled” in the UK, raising the risk that manufacturers will miss sales targets mandated by law.

Under the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, 22pc of carmakers’ sales must be electric this year with the target rising annually until it reaches 80pc in 2030.

There is some wiggle room, with carmakers able to trade carbon credits.

Original 106 achieves record listening figures

Original 106 is riding the airwaves of success having achieved its highest listening figures to-date.

The station, which broadcasts from Marischal Square in Aberdeen, has become a firm favourite in the north-east attracting around 97,000 listeners.

Figures released by Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) reveal the DC Thomson-owned station is outperforming both local commercial brands and national networks with a market share of 15.8%.

The stats show that listeners are tuning in longer than ever too, with an industry-leading average listening time of 10.2 hours per day.

Firms leaving UK 'not a crisis', says stock market boss

The chief executive of the London Stock Exchange has denied it is in crisis despite firms worth hundreds of billions of pounds quitting for the US.

Company bosses have told the BBC that the UK faces an “existential crisis” as big firms have either already left, are considering a move or have been bought by private foreign investors.

But Julia Hoggett said “there’s no sense of panic” as the UK "is already punching above its weight".

A Treasury spokesperson said the UK was "already one of the best places in the world to grow and secure investment" and it was working on ways "to improve the UK's competitiveness further”.

More like this…

View all