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Banks admit US mortgage loan hit Banks detail US mortgage losses
(10 minutes later)
A number of big investment banks have admitted big losses as a result of bad investments centred on the crisis hit US sub-prime mortgage market. A number of big investment banks have admitted major losses as a result of bad investments centred on the crisis hit US sub-prime mortgage market.
Swiss bank UBS was worst hit, forced to write down 4bn Swiss francs ($3.4bn; £1.67bn) of losses due to its exposure to US sub-prime bad debt.Swiss bank UBS was worst hit, forced to write down 4bn Swiss francs ($3.4bn; £1.67bn) of losses due to its exposure to US sub-prime bad debt.
UBS said it would now cut 1,500 jobs and make extensive management changes.UBS said it would now cut 1,500 jobs and make extensive management changes.
US giant Citigroup said its sub-prime losses would total $1.3bn, in addition to $2.6bn of extra credit costs.US giant Citigroup said its sub-prime losses would total $1.3bn, in addition to $2.6bn of extra credit costs.
UBS called its results, which mark the first loss for the bank in nine quarters, "unsatisfactory".UBS called its results, which mark the first loss for the bank in nine quarters, "unsatisfactory".
Widespread damageWidespread damage
BBC business editor Robert Peston said: "The mess is doubly embarrassing for UBS since it took a substantial hit in the dry-run for this summer's market mayhem, the crisis afflicting the giant hedge fund, Long Term Capital Management, in 1998.BBC business editor Robert Peston said: "The mess is doubly embarrassing for UBS since it took a substantial hit in the dry-run for this summer's market mayhem, the crisis afflicting the giant hedge fund, Long Term Capital Management, in 1998.
This is cringe-making for Citi's chief executive, Chuck Prince BBC business editor Robert Peston
But he added: "UBS is big enough to more than weather this storm."But he added: "UBS is big enough to more than weather this storm."
UBS has also suspended its share buyback programme in the wake of the extensive write downs.UBS has also suspended its share buyback programme in the wake of the extensive write downs.
"The share buybacks are driven by profitability," said UBS chief executive Marcel Rohner."The share buybacks are driven by profitability," said UBS chief executive Marcel Rohner.
"When the profitability returns, we'll also see buybacks, " he added."When the profitability returns, we'll also see buybacks, " he added.
Meanwhile, Credit Suisse flagged up that it too will report lower third quarter results because of the damage caused by the sharp deterioration in the sub prime residential mortgage backed securities market.Meanwhile, Credit Suisse flagged up that it too will report lower third quarter results because of the damage caused by the sharp deterioration in the sub prime residential mortgage backed securities market.
But it it will still make a profit, unlike UBS.But it it will still make a profit, unlike UBS.
Bubble prickedBubble pricked
US bank Citigroup will also make a profit in its third quarter, but this will be a third of what it was last year.US bank Citigroup will also make a profit in its third quarter, but this will be a third of what it was last year.
Citigroup chief executive Charles Prince said in a statement the decline had been driven "by weak performance in fixed-income credit market activities, write-downs in leveraged loan commitments, and increases in consumer credit costs".Citigroup chief executive Charles Prince said in a statement the decline had been driven "by weak performance in fixed-income credit market activities, write-downs in leveraged loan commitments, and increases in consumer credit costs".
The profit warning was triggered largely by $1.3bn write down on the value of securities backed by risky sub-prime mortgages which have seen record defaults in the face of higher US mortgage rates.The profit warning was triggered largely by $1.3bn write down on the value of securities backed by risky sub-prime mortgages which have seen record defaults in the face of higher US mortgage rates.
But the bank also confirmed a pre-tax loss of $1.4bn pre-tax loss on loans to private equity firms, which have until now been snapping up businesses with ever more expensive price tags at a phenomenal rate.But the bank also confirmed a pre-tax loss of $1.4bn pre-tax loss on loans to private equity firms, which have until now been snapping up businesses with ever more expensive price tags at a phenomenal rate.
"This is cringe-making for Citi's chief executive, Chuck Prince," said Mr Peston."This is cringe-making for Citi's chief executive, Chuck Prince," said Mr Peston.
"In July, he told the FT that his bank was 'still dancing' in the private equity market, long after it was obvious that the private-equity bubble had been pricked and was deflating at an alarming rate.""In July, he told the FT that his bank was 'still dancing' in the private equity market, long after it was obvious that the private-equity bubble had been pricked and was deflating at an alarming rate."
Some visibility?Some visibility?
As for the damage to UBS, many analysts had predicted some losses to earnings after it warned recently that weak trading would result should "turbulent conditions prevail".As for the damage to UBS, many analysts had predicted some losses to earnings after it warned recently that weak trading would result should "turbulent conditions prevail".
But few had forecast the magnitude of the write downs.But few had forecast the magnitude of the write downs.
"Today's UBS news is certainly bad news," said Claudia Meier, an analyst at Vontobel."Today's UBS news is certainly bad news," said Claudia Meier, an analyst at Vontobel.
But she argued: "On the other side, it finally gives some more visibility to the sub-prime fears and we expect the market to like this."But she argued: "On the other side, it finally gives some more visibility to the sub-prime fears and we expect the market to like this."