Switzerland`s biggest bank UBS on Tuesday posted a net profit of 296 million Swiss francs (200 million euros, 251 million dollars) for the third quarter, but warned that a loss was looming for the next quarter.

`UBS expects that the conditions seen at the beginning of the fourth quarter will continue to affect clients` assets, and therefore UBS` fee-earning business,` it said in a statement.

The bank, which was forced to seek help worth almost 60 billion dollars from the state, said its fourth quarter results would also be affected by the state`s aid package.

This includes a loss to be realised due to a sale of its illiquid assets to the Swiss National Bank under the rescue package.