Invested assets were CHF 639 billion on 31 December
2004, down 2% from CHF 654 billion
on 30 September 2004. In US dollar terms,
invested assets increased 7% in the quarter to a
record high of USD 561 billion, reflecting positive
inflows of net new money and the effects of
market appreciation. Compared to fourth quarter
a year earlier, invested assets were up 1%. In
US dollar terms, invested assets were 10% higher
on 31 December 2004 than they were on the
same date a year earlier.
The inflow of net new money in fourth quarter
was CHF 6.8 billion. While this was below
the inflow of CHF 7.8 billion in fourth quarter
2003, it was still the best quarterly inflow of
2004 and higher than the CHF 5.3 billion reported
last quarter. The result reflects the positive
impact of recent hiring in our advisory force as
well as the improved market environment.
Including interest and dividends, net new
money in fourth quarter 2004 was CHF 11.3 billion,
up from CHF 9.4 billion in third quarter
2004. Our net new money result in fourth quarter
compares favourably to our peers.
In full-year 2004, net new money totaled CHF
17.1 billion, down from CHF 21.1 billion a year
earlier, reflecting a slow asset-gathering performance
at the beginning of the year as well as the US
dollars weakening against the Swiss franc.
Gross margin on invested assets was 77 basis
points in fourth quarter 2004, slightly higher
than third quarter 2004. Gross margin on invested
assets before acquisition costs (net goodwill
funding costs) was 80 basis points, up from 78
basis points in third quarter 2004. The slight
increase was the result of higher client transaction
activity.
The cost / income ratio before acquisition
costs was 85.4% in fourth quarter 2004, down
from 86.7% in third quarter 2004, the second-lowest
level since PaineWebber became part of
UBS. The improvement reflects higher revenue
from the private client business, with recurring
fees at record levels in US dollars. Higher net
interest income reflects the growth of UBS Bank
USA, and higher trading volumes prompted
transactional revenues to rise.
Recurring fees stood at CHF 494 million in
fourth quarter 2004, 5% lower than the CHF
522 million recorded in third quarter 2004.
Excluding the effects of currency fluctuations,
recurring fees increased 3% in fourth quarter, to
another record high, driven by rising asset levels
in managed account open architecture products. Flows into managed account products were
USD 3.8 billion in fourth quarter 2004 and USD
12.4 billion in full-year 2004, comparing favorably
to the USD 10.2 billion flow for full-year
2003. Recurring fees combined with the net
interest income from our lending business now
represent around half of our total revenues.
Productivity per advisor increased in fourth
quarter 2004 to CHF 162,000 from CHF
160,000 in third quarter as transaction volumes
rose 19%. Our efforts to recruit advisors and
renew our trainee program proved to be effective.
Financial advisor headcount was 7,519 on
31 December 2004, up 176 from 7,343 on 30
September 2004.