Business confidence rebounds in Scotland

Scottish businesses are as confident as they have been since last November, accordingtothelatestbank of Scotland’s snapshot.

Releasing its latest business barometer today, the Lloyds-owned lender said confidence levels in Scotland rose 12 points during April to 9 per cent – the highest reading since November.

Companies pointed to stronger confidence in their business prospects at 19 per cent, up nine points from March.

Taken together with their greater optimism about the economy, this gives an overall confidence reading of 9 per cent.

A net balance of 20 per cent of Scottish firms said they felt that Brexit was having a negative impact on their expectations for business activity, down eight points on a month ago.

Fraser Sime of Bank of Scotland’s commercial banking arm said: “It’s encouraging to see the positive UK picture presented by April’s business barometer reflected in Scotland, after a dip in confidence was measured last month.”