Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK today.
Record revenues for Knight Frank
Revenues at Knight Frank hit a record last year when companies wanting new offices kept its agents busy despite the commercial property market downturn.
The property agent, whose negotiators lease and sell commercial and residential buildings around the world, said it benefited from the “flight to quality” trend, under which businesses are opting for greener, more modern bases.
“The office-occupier markets are really busy. For our London leasing agents, it was probably one of their busiest years,” William Beardmore-Gray, chairman of Knight Frank, said. “The majority of the interest we are seeing is from companies which realise very clearly now that the office is a strategic tool to attract the best talent and increase productivity.”
He told The Times the most sought-after buildings “have the best sustainability credentials, and they will be coupled with the best environment, location and fit-out”.
Dutch Mill owners buy Westhill’s Broadstraik Inn
The owners of Aberdeen’s Dutch Mill have bought Westhill’s Broadstraik Inn – and are launching a major revamp.
For months, speculation has been mounting over the future of the venue – with work recently launched at the site.
The P&J says GHN Ltd, the company which owns the Dutch Mill on Queens Road and the Atholl Hotel on King’s Gate, has bought the Broadstraik Inn.
A building warrant lodged with Aberdeenshire Council indicates that improvements worth £250,000 are under way at the pub eight miles west of Aberdeen.
George Soros hands $25bn empire to son
US billionaire philanthropist George Soros has handed over the running of his $25bn (£19.9bn) financial and charitable empire to his son Alex.
The Hungarian-born financier said his son had "earned it", in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Since the 1990s the family's wealth has been directed to support democracy-building in dozens of countries.
M&S bosses to meet Our Union Street
Bosses at retail giant M&S have agreed to meet with Bob Keiller of Our Union Street to discuss the future of its St Nicholas outlet.
Mr Keiller wrote to the firm earlier this month amid recurring speculation that it is set to expand its footprint in Union Square.
Aside from confirming it would meet with the Our Union Street boss, a spokeswoman would not be drawn on the speculation.
“We have had a presence in Aberdeen since 1944 and are committed to supporting the city and the communities we serve day in day out,” she told the P&J.
“There are no current announcements to make.”
US and eurozone weigh up interest rate rise
Two of the world’s largest central banks will weigh up whether to raise borrowing costs again this week, amid mounting speculation that the cycle of aggressive interest rate rises will come to an end this summer.
Policymakers at the US Federal Reserve, due to convene tomorrow and announce their decision the following day, are expected to pause an aggressive campaign which started last spring. Markets are pricing in a 70% chance of them keeping interest rates on hold, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool.
The European Central Bank, which will announce its decision on Thursday, is expected to raise rates by a quarter of a percentage point, but signal to investors that it, too, is ready to pause further tightening.
Danone boss calls for higher taxes on unhealthy food
The boss of one of the UK's biggest food firms is calling for higher taxes on salty, fatty and sugary foods.
Food producers had not "shown enough appetite to change", said James Mayer, who runs Danone in the UK and Irish Republic.
The French firm is best known for its yoghurt brands, but also owns bottled water brands Evian and Volvic.
He told the BBC only 10% of Danone's own products would be affected by what have been dubbed "sin" taxes.