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

Veteran North Sea innovator Ben van Bilderbeek hands over reins at Plexus

Oilfield technology inventor Ben van Bilderbeek has stepped down as chief executive of Plexus, the oil and gas engineering services business he launched in Aberdeen in 1985.

Plexus said its 76-year-old founder had retired as CEO and moved to the role of non-executive chairman.

Jeff Thrall who has been chairman since 2012, will stay on the board as a non-executive director.

Craig Hendrie, who has been with Plexus for more than 25 years, including 19 as technical director, is now CEO of the Alternative Investment Market-listed company.

House prices still unaffordable for the average earner despite wage rises - Nationwide

Average house prices are still unaffordable for the typical earner, the UK's largest building society has said.

Despite wages rising above the rate of inflation in recent months and house prices falling from the record high of summer 2022, "housing affordability is still stretched", Nationwide said.

A greater proportion of take-home pay is going on mortgage bills, according to the lender's house price index.

Someone earning the average UK income seeking to buy their first home with a deposit worth 20% of the asking price will have a monthly mortgage bill of 37% of their end pay packet.

Interest rates drive Revolut profits to record high

Higher interest rates helped to drive a near-doubling of revenues at Revolut to £1.8 billion last year and pushed profits at the fast-growing financial technology company to record levels.

Accounts for the London-based group, which will be published on Tuesday, show that it swung to a pre-tax profit of £437.8m in 2023 from a £25.4m loss a year earlier.

Revolut reaped the benefit of higher rates, with its interest income surging to about £500m from less than £83m in 2022.

This contributed to a 95% year-on-year surge in revenue from £923m to £1.8bn.

Inside Out 2 becomes first movie of 2024 to top $1bn at global box office

Inside Out has become the first film of the year to take over $1bn worldwide, becoming the highest grossing film of the year.

It is the first to reach the milestone since Warner Brothers' movie Barbie last year, gaining the accolade faster than any animated film in history.

It has held the top spot at the box office for the last three weekends, following its release on 14 June.

The Pixar and Walt Disney collaboration is about a young girl called Riley, and the emotions she experiences as she learns and grows (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust).

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