UBS cuts about two dozen bankers in Asia on China slowdown

    • UBS has previously cut half a dozen mainland China-focused employees in Hong Kong in 2022.
    • UBS has previously cut half a dozen mainland China-focused employees in Hong Kong in 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
    Published Fri, Oct 13, 2023 · 11:24 PM

    UBS Group has trimmed about 7 per cent of its global banking unit in Asia, as slowing Chinese growth prompts the arm’s first redundancy round of the year.

    About two dozen investment bankers were affected, people familiar with the matter said. It mainly relates to China-focused roles based in Hong Kong and includes several managing directors, they added. 

    The cuts were originally slated for September but were postponed as a result of the Credit Suisse merger, the people said. The final number of job losses is not decided.

    A Hong Kong-based spokesperson declined to comment.

    A slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy is hitting dealmaking, prompting global banks to rein in their presence in the once lucrative market. The Swiss bank previously cut half a dozen mainland China-focused employees in Hong Kong in 2022. BLOOMBERG

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