Thursday newspaper round-up: Scottish independence, UK economy, Apple...
More than a hundred Scottish business leaders wanted to sign a letter backing the Union but stayed silent because they feared "consequences" from the SNP Government, it has been claimed. Gavin Hewitt, the former Scotch Whisky Association chairman who helped gather signatures, said around half the executives he approached agreed the business case for independence was not yet made but declined to go public amid worries of a Nationalist backlash. - The Telegraph
Britain is on track to grow at its fastest pace since 2007, but the government is no closer to achieving its goal of rebalancing the economy, according to the British Chambers of Commerce. In its latest health check of the economy, the BCC raised its growth forecast from 3.1 per cent to 3.2 per cent for this year and from 2.7 per cent to 2.8 per cent for 2015 on the back of stronger employment figures. [...] However, the government appears to be struggling in its efforts to double exports to £1 trillion by 2020, with the business lobby group more than halving its estimate this year for exports of goods and services from 1.9 per cent to 0.8 per cent. - The Times
Apple will unveil a smartwatch alongside the iPhone 6 on September 9, according to reports. The technology giant is expected to launch the iWatch at a "big" media event next month, Re/code has claimed. The wearable device could utilise the HomeKit function on Apple's new iOS 8 operating system, potentially allowing users to control lights and garage doors wherever they are in the house. - The Telegraph
The global insurance industry covered $21bn (£12.7bn) of losses from disasters in the first half of 2014 as fewer natural catastrophes kept claims below their long-term average. The total economic cost of disasters in the first six months was $44bn of which natural events made up $41bn, figures from Swiss Re, the world's second-biggest reinsurer, showed. [...] The figure for overall economic costs was down from $59bn a year ago and was less than half the first-half average of $94bn in the last decade. - The Guardian
It is the inalienable right of every American to keep and bear arms. However, according to one of the United States' most high-profile and historic gunsmiths, recent enthusiastic keeping and bearing of arms has led to a collapse in sales of new weapons. Shares in Smith & Wesson, the company that produces the Magnum revolver made famous by the Dirty Harry films, crashed on Wall Street after the 160-year-old company issued a profit warning, reported a dive in earnings and admitted that semi- automatic rifle sales had shot their bolt. - The Times
Scottish business confidence has dropped below the UK average, despite firms enjoying strong sales growth over the past 12 months.The latest UK business confidence monitor, which is published today by accountancy firm Grant Thornton and membership organisation ICAEW, reveals a score of +15.1 for companies based north of the Border, well below the UK average of +32.3. Three months ago the monitor had stood at around 35 on both sides of the Border - The Scotsman
Matalan has donated less than $120,000 (£72,000) to a UN-backed compensation fund for victims of the Rana Plaza factory disaster in Bangladesh, far less than the amount called for by workers' rights campaigners. The British fashion retailer's contribution is revealed by the rise in the total value of donations published on the fund's website since Matalan's donation was added. The payout falls well short of the £3m ($5m) which labour rights organisations including Labour Behind the Label and 38 Degrees have called on Matalan to donate. - The Guardian
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