GENEVA, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - Swiss Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz played down on Wednesday any suggestion that the biggest Swiss bank UBS could be taken over following its publication of huge subprime writedowns.

He also ruled out any question of state aid for the bank which, he said, was not at risk of bankruptcy.

SINGAPORE, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - Massive new writedowns announced by Switzerland's UBS are unlikely to shake major investor Singapore's faith in the bank's long-term potential, analysts said Wednesday.

Some said they would not be surprised if the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) stepped forward with a further capital injection for UBS.

SINGAPORE, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - The Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) on Wednesday stood by its decision to invest in troubled Swiss bank UBS and did not rule out a further capital injection.

SINGAPORE, April 2, 2008 (AFP) - The Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) stands by its decision to invest in troubled Swiss bank UBS and does not rule out a further capital injection, newspapers reported Wednesday.

GENEVA, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Switzerland's banking watchdog said Tuesday it should have probed UBS further after the bank gave assurances last March its subprime exposure was under control.

GENEVA, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Huge writedowns at two top Swiss banks have tarnished the brand of Swiss banking but the strong reputation of Switzerland as a financial centre still stands, analysts insisted on Tuesday.

GENEVA, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Swiss banking giant UBS picked lawyer Peter Kurer as its new chairman on Tuesday, raising eyebrows among investors who questioned his financial experience to steer the bank out of subprime writedowns.

GENEVA, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Marcel Ospel, one of the best-paid executives in Switzerland, was forced on Tuesday to step down from his post as chairman of UBS as the bank entered a new phase of subprime crisis under his watch.

ZURICH, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Swiss banking giant UBS revealed a second round of massive subprime-related writedowns on Tuesday of about 19 billion dollars, the biggest hit in the mortgage crisis so far worldwide.

ZURICH, March 31, 2008 (AFP) - Embattled Swiss banking giant UBS came under fresh pressure on the stock market Monday as it began to lower valuations of so-called auction-rate securities generally viewed as safe investment vehicles.

The stock fell nearly 5.0 percent to a low of 27.60 Swiss francs earlier in the day, before recovering to 28.38 Swiss francs in late afternoon trade.