Industrial and precious metal prices have soared in recent years, despite considerable differences in market structure. The Credit Suisse business unit is a provider of wide-ranging financial services in Europe and other selected markets. In Asset Management, it provides access to a range of investment classes, ranging from money market, fixed income, equities and balanced products, to alternative investments, such as real estate, hedge funds, private equity and volatility management. “Our view is that in these markets being in a position of unquestioned capital strength will be paramount,” Dougan said. Credit Suisse has also taken a step to streamline its operation in the increasingly global market. Since emerging markets typically have very small capital stocks, capital investment has the potential to be extremely lucrative. This partnership gives CS’s clients access to the South African equities market, which is a component of many emerging market indices.

Private Banking

Private Banking specializes in providing personal investment counseling and professional asset management to affluent individuals. Private banks typically earn higher fees investing client money in high-risk products like equity funds. It provides a wide range of high-quality banking services for private and corporate clients in Switzerland. In its asset management business, Credit Suisse offers products across the full spectrum of investment classes, ranging from equities, fixed income and multiple-asset class products, to alternative investments such as real estate, hedge funds, private equity and volatility management. Swiss banking giant UBS AG (ADR: UBS) succumbed to government intervention yesterday (Thursday) and the country’s other banking powerhouse, Credit Suisse Group AG (ADR: CS) announced it would raise fresh capital from private shareholders after rebuffing central bank assistance. The bank already has secured $27 billion in capital from private investors this year. UBS said it earned a profit of $261 million (296 million Swiss francs), but disclosed that private depositors withdrew $43. Specifically, the firm advises corporations on merging with or acquiring other companies, facilitates client equity and fixed income trading, manages assets for institutional investors and engages in both long term (private equity) and short term investments (propriety trading).