The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) found four out of every five building firms had suffered problems with late payments over the past year.

BBC: Construction firms hit by late payment 'epidemic'

Salomon Smith Barney (nyse: SBF - news - people ) is under investigation by the New York Stock Exchange for similar allegations involving WorldCom workers.

FORBES: Out of Options

SBF, the company which owns the French stock exchange.

ECONOMIST: Derivatives exchanges

The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) said despite a "modest" rise in construction output during the last three months of last year, annual output from the industry remained at its lowest level for 10 years.

BBC: Scottish economy grows by 0.5%