This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7999352.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Swiss bank UBS to cut 8,700 jobs | Swiss bank UBS to cut 8,700 jobs |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Switzerland's biggest bank, UBS, has said it will seek to cut costs by shedding 8,700 jobs by next year. | Switzerland's biggest bank, UBS, has said it will seek to cut costs by shedding 8,700 jobs by next year. |
| The news came as the bank announced it had lost about 2bn Swiss francs ($1.75bn; £1.2bn) in the first three months of 2009. | The news came as the bank announced it had lost about 2bn Swiss francs ($1.75bn; £1.2bn) in the first three months of 2009. |
| UBS has been one of the biggest banks hit by exposure to the sub-prime loans crisis in the US and ensuing turmoil. | UBS has been one of the biggest banks hit by exposure to the sub-prime loans crisis in the US and ensuing turmoil. |
| "Unfortunately I am not able, as yet, to offer you any good news," said chief executive Oswald Gruebel. | "Unfortunately I am not able, as yet, to offer you any good news," said chief executive Oswald Gruebel. |
| Later on Wednesday, the Swiss President told the BBC that the former UBS management had taken too many risks, but that he was confident the new team would restore the bank's reputation as the backbone of Swiss financing. | Later on Wednesday, the Swiss President told the BBC that the former UBS management had taken too many risks, but that he was confident the new team would restore the bank's reputation as the backbone of Swiss financing. |
| UBS has recently replaced both its chairman and chief executive. | UBS has recently replaced both its chairman and chief executive. |
| 'Uncertainties' | 'Uncertainties' |
| Mr Gruebel painted a bleak picture of the short-term outlook for the bank to the assembled shareholders. | Mr Gruebel painted a bleak picture of the short-term outlook for the bank to the assembled shareholders. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| "I am forced to present you with another round of unsatisfactory performance figures and to announce further drastic measures," he told nearly 5,000 UBS investors attending the bank's annual shareholder meeting. | "I am forced to present you with another round of unsatisfactory performance figures and to announce further drastic measures," he told nearly 5,000 UBS investors attending the bank's annual shareholder meeting. |
| "Our outlook remains cautious and we face many uncertainties. We have to prepare ourselves for this, even though we are entitled to be very optimistic about the longer-term prospects for our bank," he said. | "Our outlook remains cautious and we face many uncertainties. We have to prepare ourselves for this, even though we are entitled to be very optimistic about the longer-term prospects for our bank," he said. |
| The bank, which is also being investigated by the US authorities over alleged fraud and tax evasion involving US citizens, said major job cuts were unfortunately unavoidable. | The bank, which is also being investigated by the US authorities over alleged fraud and tax evasion involving US citizens, said major job cuts were unfortunately unavoidable. |
| The bank, which employed 76,200 people at the end of March, expects to reduce the number of its employees to about 67,500 in 2010. | The bank, which employed 76,200 people at the end of March, expects to reduce the number of its employees to about 67,500 in 2010. |
| 'Unavoidable' | 'Unavoidable' |
| The bank is hoping to make savings of 4bn Swiss francs and said the job cuts were "unfortunately unavoidable". | The bank is hoping to make savings of 4bn Swiss francs and said the job cuts were "unfortunately unavoidable". |
| UBS said it would shed 2,500 jobs in Switzerland and thousands in the US, but did not say how many may be lost in the UK, where it employs 7,000 people. | UBS said it would shed 2,500 jobs in Switzerland and thousands in the US, but did not say how many may be lost in the UK, where it employs 7,000 people. |
| When shareholders themselves got the chance to speak, they did not hide their disappointment at UBS's continuing bad performance Imogen Foulkes, BBC correspondent at UBS AGM Read Imogen's AGM report | When shareholders themselves got the chance to speak, they did not hide their disappointment at UBS's continuing bad performance Imogen Foulkes, BBC correspondent at UBS AGM Read Imogen's AGM report |
| The job cuts come on top of thousands previously announced and mean UBS will have reduced its staff levels by more than 16,000 jobs, or have shed almost one-fifth from its workforce of 83,800 of a year ago. | The job cuts come on top of thousands previously announced and mean UBS will have reduced its staff levels by more than 16,000 jobs, or have shed almost one-fifth from its workforce of 83,800 of a year ago. |
| UBS also said that it had seen 7bn Swiss francs of business customers' money leave the bank during the first quarter. | UBS also said that it had seen 7bn Swiss francs of business customers' money leave the bank during the first quarter. |
| Shareholders will vote later at their meeting on the appointment of former Swiss Finance Minister Kaspar Villiger to replace Peter Kurer as chairman after just one year in the job. | Shareholders will vote later at their meeting on the appointment of former Swiss Finance Minister Kaspar Villiger to replace Peter Kurer as chairman after just one year in the job. |
| Tax talks | Tax talks |
| The world financial downturn has already forced UBS to make about $50bn in write-downs and to announce 11,000 job cuts since the middle of 2007. | The world financial downturn has already forced UBS to make about $50bn in write-downs and to announce 11,000 job cuts since the middle of 2007. |
| In late 2008, it transferred billions in toxic debts to a fund owned by the Swiss National Bank to take them off its balance sheet. | In late 2008, it transferred billions in toxic debts to a fund owned by the Swiss National Bank to take them off its balance sheet. |
| Meanwhile, the bank remains embroiled in talks with the US authorities over tax issues. | Meanwhile, the bank remains embroiled in talks with the US authorities over tax issues. |
| In February, UBS agreed to pay $780m (£525m) to the US government to settle allegations that it had defrauded US tax authorities. | In February, UBS agreed to pay $780m (£525m) to the US government to settle allegations that it had defrauded US tax authorities. |