UBS posts $1.75 billion loss; 8,700 jobs to go

UBS announced highlights of its upcoming first quarter results at its annual general meeting in Zurich yesterday, along with the news that 8,700 jobs are to be axed.

UBS estimates that it will report a loss of almost SFr2 billion $1.75 billion for the first quarter of 2009. The loss stems from a negative contribution totalling approximately SFr3.9 billion from losses on illiquid risk positions, credit loss expenses and valuation adjustments on the last positions transferred to a fund controlled by the Swiss National Bank. UBS said that the outlook for its remaining risk positions has not changed materially.
    
UBS has been successful in ongoing efforts to shrink the size of...