Scottish Business Briefing - Monday 9 October, 2012 - Business - Scotsman.com The latest Bank of Scotland purchasing managers index (PMI) also highlights mounting cost pressures for businesses, with input price inflation hitting an eight-month high (Scotsman). Tough property market sees ESPC profits slide, but investment goes on Last year's worsening market for home property sales has driven down profits and turnover at the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC). The firm, which counts registrations of sold property as income, said turnover in the year to the end of May fell to £8.8 million from £11.4m in the previous year. Pre-tax profits were lower at £949,000 from £1.6m (Scotsman) Bold expansion plan sees senior Xodus pair move to Dubai The chief executive and chief financial officer of Aberdeen-based energy consultancy Xodus Group are relocating to Dubai as part a £2 million push into the Middle East (Scotsman). Wake-up call to oil firms on supply, demand Oil firms need to wake up to global changes in supply and demand, according to a research paper published today. The report by Chatham House says demand for oil in traditional markets is peaking as transport users seek efficiency and alternative fuels (P&J). BRITAIN is prepared to block BAE Systems" proposed £28 billion merger with EADS if the French and German governments do not reduce their stakes in the European aerospace and defence group, defence secretary Philip Hammond has warned (Scotsman). Asda's profits boosted by Netto ASDA raised its profits by 4% last year amid uncertain economic conditions and increased market share helped by the acquisition of Netto Foodstores. Accounts filed at Companies House by the supermarket giant show the company made £767.8m profit before tax in 2011, compared with £739.1m in the preceding year (Herald).