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UBS’s fourth-quarter earnings blew previous expectations because it turned the most recent world financial institution to learn from the buying and selling frenzy following Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory.
A robust efficiency at its funding financial institution powered UBS to internet earnings of $770mn within the remaining three months of final 12 months, surpassing the $483mn forecast by analysts. Revenues climbed 7 per cent to $11.6bn in contrast with the identical interval a 12 months earlier.
The Swiss financial institution mentioned that it had benefited from robust demand from institutional and personal purchasers in the course of the quarter, boosted by a rise in threat urge for food following Trump’s return to the White Home.
Revenues at UBS’s world markets division jumped 44 per cent within the fourth quarter in contrast with the identical interval in 2023, boosted by increased buying and selling exercise in equities and overseas change.
The outcomes echo these from Wall Avenue rivals final month, and are available as French lender BNP Paribas on Tuesday mentioned {that a} rebound at its funding financial institution helped drive earnings up greater than 15 per cent.
In addition they mark a fourth consecutive quarter of revenue on the Swiss lender because it continues to combine its former rival Credit score Suisse, which it acquired in 2023 in a deal orchestrated by Swiss regulators.
On the again of the higher than anticipated outcomes, UBS mentioned that it will purchase again $1bn of its shares within the first half of 2025 and an additional $2bn within the second half.
Pre-tax earnings at UBS’s funding financial institution got here in considerably forward of expectations at $486mn, however the financial institution’s wealth administration unit disenchanted with smaller inflows than analysts anticipated.
The wealth administration enterprise — particularly within the crowded however fast-growing US market — is considered an vital a part of its technique to capitalise on its acquisition of Credit score Suisse.
“All through 2024, we maintained sturdy momentum as we captured development in world wealth and asset administration and gained market share within the funding financial institution within the areas the place we’ve got made strategic investments,” mentioned UBS chief govt Sergio Ermotti.
UBS added that “constructive market circumstances” continued into the primary quarter of 2025, however warned that investor sentiment may very well be hit by a “clouded macroeconomic outlook outdoors the US [and] elevated uncertainties round world commerce”.
UBS is in the course of a three-year integration of Credit score Suisse, which includes migrating purchasers and integrating IT methods, a prolonged course of that the financial institution expects will likely be accomplished in 2026.
The migration of nearly all of Swiss accounts and all portfolios in its asset administration enterprise could be accomplished by the tip of the 12 months, UBS added.
Final month, Ermotti signalled that he would proceed to chop jobs as the combination progressed. UBS’s headcount swelled from under 75,000 to about 120,000 after it agreed to rescue its cross-town rival almost two years in the past.
The financial institution had about 109,000 full-time workers on the finish of final 12 months, down from 113,000 a 12 months earlier.
Through the remaining quarter of 2023, UBS fell to a $279mn loss because it contended with restructuring prices associated to the combination.
