Here are the top business stories making the headlines in the morning newspapers.
Bus ban on Broad Street?
Buses could be banned from the part-pedestrianised Broad Street in Aberdeen.
The city centre street is currently shared by public transport, bikes and pedestrians.
The Press and Journal says councillors voted to close it off to all other traffic in 2016.
Broad Street was revamped at a cost of £3.2 million. Then, full pedestrianisation was considered but ultimately watered down after protests from bus companies.
But the lack of kerbs has been a source of concern for the visually-impaired.
Some have found themselves unknowingly in the middle of the road without the step to warn them.
Now, planners have been tasked with spelling out the implications of closing off Broad Street to all vehicles.
Step closer for Energy Transition Zone site
Plans for an Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) in Torry's St Fittick's Park have taken a step closer, despite pleas from campaigners.
The Press and Journal says councillors approved the Aberdeen Local Development Plan 2023 (LDP) at a meeting of the full council yesterday.
The LDP outlines the "ambitious framework" for the city over the next five years, and will help to guide future planning decisions.
Scottish ministers had examined the proposed LDP and made modifications before it was returned to the local authority this summer.
As per the rules, councillors were told they had "no choice" but to accept the reporter's recommendations and adopt the amended plan.
Sale on hold for Stewart Milne Group
North-east housebuilder Stewart Milne Group (SMG) has put efforts to sell the business on hold.
The decision comes amid signs parts of the UK housing market are suffering an adverse impact from higher interest rates, inflation and other cost-of-living pressures.
Some recent data indicates a drop in house prices, with experts predicting further declines to come as higher mortgage rates force potential buyers out of the market.
Even so, SMG is reporting "strong" interest across all its sites in recent months.
The Press and Journal says the group revealed plans for a sale of the business in April, when founder and majority shareholder Stewart Milne announced his intention to retire.
Interest rates go up
The Bank of England has raised UK interest rates to their highest level for 14 years as it battles to stem soaring inflation.
It yesterday increased them to 3.5% from 3%, marking the ninth time in a row it has hiked interest rates.
The rise will mean higher mortgage payments for many homeowners, and people with loans.
It should benefit savers, if banks pass on the higher rate to customers.
The BBC says that, at 10.7%, the inflation rate remains more than five times higher than the Bank's 2% target, but it eased slightly in November.
GMB rejects pay deal
The GMB union has voted to reject an improved NHS pay deal from the Scottish Government.
The union represents NHS ambulance staff, nurses, porters and radiographers.
It said two-thirds of its members voted to reject the improved offer, which would have seen workers receive an average 7.5% pay uplift.
The GMB suspended a planned 26-hour ambulance strike last month and put the new offer to members in a vote.
GMB Scotland has more than 8,000 members employed across the NHS and its associated services, including 1,700 members in the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy voted to accept the offer on Thursday.
Members of Unite and Unison also voted to accept the offer earlier this week.
The BBC says Royal College of Nursing members are currently voting on the offer.
RMT left isolated
The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) has been left isolated in its dispute with train chiefs after a rival union voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer and end industrial action.
Some 85% of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association working at Network Rail backed an identical deal that was rejected by the RMT on Monday, which saw staff offered a 9% pay rise.
The Telegraph says Network Rail's third union, Unite, also agreed to the same terms earlier this week.
TSSA organising director Luke Chester hailed the deal as "great news and a great deal for our members in Network Rail".
He added: "It just shows what can be done through negotiations when there's a serious offer on the table."