UBS posts $13b loss

Swiss bank UBS has reported a fourth-quarter loss of 8.1 billion Swiss francs ($12.9 billion).

The results exceed fears by analysts who had expected losses of 6.2 billion francs.

Switzerland's biggest bank says the results bring its full-year loss to 19.7 billion francs for 2008.

UBS blamed the losses largely on bad decisions by its investment bank.

Net new money outflows from its wealth and asset management businesses reached 85.8 billion francs during the three months to December.