Fewer Scottish firms benefiting from scheme
The willingness of wealthy private investors to back fledgling Scottish companies dipped significantly last year, according to a new report by international law firm Pinsent Masons.
Markets
Centrica and Hunting shares among fallers
London's leading shares index made solid gains today as euphoria from a positive US jobs report and optimism around the future of the euro boosted investor confidence.
Noble Energy steps into Falklands
Interest in Falkland Islands oil exploration rose today after US oil firm Noble Energy agreed a deal to take control of licenses from explorer Falklands Oil and Gas.
Asco has £75m war chest to help extend global reach
Oil and gas logistics firm Asco said yesterday it had a £75million war chest for acquisitions.
Petrofac shares among risers, Ithaca fall
London's leading shares index surged to a three-month high today as encouraging US jobs figures took the focus away from Europe's failure to tackle its debt crisis.
Ex-BP exec joins Valiant board
Valiant Petroleum said today it has taken on former BP executive and Silverstone Energy co-founder Stephen Horton.
Rig operator counts cost of gulf disaster
Global rig operator Transocean has set aside a further £483million to cover costs in the wake of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster, it revealed yesterday.
Apache hails successes in North Sea
US oil firm Apache said yesterday that drilling successes in the North Sea this year would make a significant contribution to 2012 group production growth.
Parkmead and Petrofac shares among fallers
The boss of the European Central Bank disappointed investors today after he failed to sanction fresh emergency measures to tackle the debt crisis.
ENI makes new gas discovery off Mozambique
Italian oil and gas group Eni said yesterday it had made a new and important natural gas discovery at its bumper Mamba field off the coast of Mozambique.
Talisman reports fall in North Sea production
Canadian oil firm Talisman has revealed its North Sea production fell nearly 30% in the past quarter.
Cape dives on profit shock
Shares in international oil and mining service firm Cape plunged yesterday to their lowest in more than three years after it sent out a stark profit warning.
North Sea operations buck wider BP trend
BP's North Sea operations saw a rise in production in the second quarter, bucking a fall across the wider group, the oil major revealed yesterday.
Oil giant’s shares slide after it racks up £1bn loss for quarter
Shares in oil giant BP took a beating yesterday after the firm announced pre-tax losses of £1billion for the second quarter of this year.
BP shares among biggest Footsie fallers
London's leading shares index fell 1% today as investors began to lose faith that central banks would roll out more emergency stimulus measures this week.
Russian billionaires vote against TNK-BP payout plan
BP's relationship with the co-owners of its TNK-BP joint venture has been put under more strain after the Alfa Access-Renova consortium of Russian billionaires voted against a proposed £637million dividend.
US call for Chinese bid for Nexen to be blocked
A US senator has called for a Chinese oil firm's bid for North Sea oil and gas operator Nexen to be blocked until China agrees to let more American goods into its markets.
Weir Group among biggest Footsie risers
The FTSE 100 Index surged nearly 1% or 54.1 points to 5,627.2 today as it built on yesterday's strong gains.
Shell biggest Footsie faller after profits slump
World markets rallied higher today after the boss of the European Central Bank pledged to do "whatever it takes" to keep the euro together.
Tullow Oil shares take a tumble
London's main market held firm today despite news of a shock 0.7% slump in UK output.
Rosneft signals interest in doing deal with BP
Russian oil giant Rosneft has declared its interest in buying BP's stake in the TNK-BP joint venture.
Bid for US major failed
A bid by CNOOC to buy up a US oil and gas producer in 2005 ended up failing after it faced strident political opposition.
Wood Group shares among risers, but Shell falls
London's FTSE 100 Index closed in the red again today as world markets continued to suffer amid fears over Spain and the eurozone.
Insatiable demand to fuel growth
Growth is driving China's insatiable demand for energy, leading to it becoming the world's second biggest consumer of energy.
Revenue boost at Halliburton
Energy service giant Halliburton has recorded a 22% increase in revenue, thanks to high drilling activity around the world.