Aberdeen Asset Management has completed its transformation from industry leper to highly-rated growth stock as it unveiled higher-than-expected retention of funds, so far, from its acquisition of Deutsche Asset Management.

Scotland's key financial services companies have revealed a record level of confidence for future growth and recruitment in 2006, according to a new survey, revealing jobs and bonus potential.

Scottish Widows and Standard Life overtook long-time leader Artemis in January to head jointly the league of investment houses north of the border with the greatest number of top-performing managers of open-ended funds.

Scottish Financial Enterprise, the industry lobby group, last night claimed 2006 would be another successful year for the country's financial sector after 61% of its members said they expected business prospects to improve.

The Bank of Scotland has taken a 20% stake in Glasgow-based Mono Global, which provides management and support to the mobile telecoms industry.

Martin Currie saw an increase in both revenues and funds under management last year, as rising stock markets helped lift the investment house's fortunes.

First Minister Mr Jack McConnell today welcomed plans by Morgan Stanley to expand its operations in Scotland with the creation of up to 300 new high quality jobs.

Britannic Asset Management, the Glasgow-based business which next month will take the name of parent company Resolution, has reported an 18% rise in profits and a 39% rise in new third-party business to £248m after a successful year.

Aegon UK has created the position of head of business performance that it says 'reflects the new climate within the industry'.

Prudential is understood to have ruled out any move on Standard Life as the Edinburgh mutual prepares for its £5 billion stock-market flotation, believing that the UK market would not generate the returns to justify a big-money outlay.

Kenneth Barker, manager of the Baillie Gifford Corporate Bond and High Yield Bond funds, has returned to the top of The Herald's monthly table of the best-performing fund managers with Scottish investment houses.

April got off to a tremendous start with news that Morgan Stanley is expanding its operations in the International Financial Services District (IFSD) with the creation of up to 300 new high quality jobs.

Glasgow based Halal Financial Services is the European regional winner of the prestigious Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Islamic Finance Award.

Aberdeen Asset Management yesterday underlined its dramatic recovery from the split-cap trust saga by announcing a quadrupling of half-year profits in the first period to reflect the £265m acquisition of Deutsche Asset Management last year.

Scots have a worldwide reputation for being good with money, so it should come as no surprise that Scotland continues to be a thriving international centre of financial services.

Dunfermline Building Society opened its brand new branch on Saturday 1st April in the Almondvale Shopping Centre in Livingston, which will serve members and potential new members in the West Lothian area.

Edinburgh-based fund manager Martin Currie has reported its best quarter yet, adding £900m to funds to take the total above £12bn, and it is not expecting a market retreat.

Martin Currie Investment Management, based in the heart of Edinburgh’s professional and financial services district, is a firm with a difference.

Rahul Sharma, 34, is a director of Edinburgh-based Martin Currie Investment Management. He joined in 2005 as sector manager responsible for consumer goods stocks.

AEGON UK’s underlying operating earnings for the first three months of 2006 were £44m, an increase of 33% on the same period 2005.

Scotland’s financial services industry has enjoyed a strong start to the year according to the latest quarterly survey from Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) and Capgemini published today.

Aegon UK, the Edinburgh-based life and pensions owner of Scottish Equitable, yesterday confirmed it is entering the bulk annuity market in the fourth quarter this year with a 'low-key, low-profile' launch.

Progress made over the past 5 years, but still more to be done.....

Britannic Asset Management has changed its name to Resolution Asset Management – another landmark in the transformation of the Glasgow based organisation over the last few years.

Bright Grey, the Edinburgh-based niche protection insurer which is part of mutually-owned Royal London, is parting company with its chief executive David Robinson.

SVM Asset Management, the Edinburgh-based boutique which experienced a turnover of fund managers last year, has become one of the few companies to offer managers a share of fund revenues as an additional incentive.