Swiss banking giant UBS reported net profit of CHF 3.5 billion ($3.14 billion) in the first quarter of 2006, up 29% from the first quarter 2005.

Its financial businesses (wealth management, asset management and investment banking) contributed most of the profit, although UBS’s industrial holdings, including its private equity portfolio, accounted for 13% of its profit.

“The strong position we have in our areas of focus allowed us to take full advantage of the positive environment, producing our best quarterly performance ever. Our trading businesses benefited from the healthy rise in financial markets, with the growing asset base in our wealth and asset management businesses driving recurring income higher,” said Clive Standish, chief financial officer.

Total revenue for UBS’s financial businesses was CHF 12.4 billion in the quarter, 26% higher than the same quarter a year earlier. Net fee and commission income, which comprised 50% of overall revenue in the first quarter, remained very strong. High brokerage and investment fund fees and a record result in portfolio and other management fees more than offset higher commission expenses – which were up because of increased client activity. Net income from interest margin products rose, mainly due to growing margin lending volumes in the wealth management businesses, it reported.

The Wealth Management units recorded inflows of CHF 33.6 billion this quarter, up from CHF 24.1 billion in the same period a year earlier, reflecting high inflows into the domestic European business and further strong contributions from Asian clients. Global Asset Management experienced an inflow of CHF 12.6 billion. Institutional clients, mainly in Europe and the Americas, contributed to inflows, as did the wholesale intermediary business worldwide.

The bank says that, looking ahead, deal pipelines remain promising, client flows healthy, capital markets active, and macroeconomic fundamentals stable. “We remain confident in the outlook for UBS, even if conditions change. To ensure we continue to make the most of business opportunities, whatever the environment, we will apply discipline towards both costs and management of all forms of risk, while further investing in our areas of strategic focus,” said Standish.

Global Wealth Management & Business Banking’s pre-tax profit was CHF 2.0 billion. The Wealth Management International & Switzerland division saw a record pre-tax profit of CHF 1.3 billion, up 14% from the fourth quarter of 2005. Wealth Management US reported record pre-tax profit of CHF 186 million, up 124% compared with the fourth quarter, reflecting higher revenues and significantly lower levels of litigation provisions.

Global Asset Management’s pre-tax profit in the first quarter was CHF 374 million, an increase of 23% compared with the fourth quarter 2005. Strong performance fees earned in alternative and quantitative investments as well as in traditional asset classes combined with higher asset-based fees, reflecting both net new money inflows and rising financial markets, contributed to this performance, UBS said.

Pre-tax profit at the Investment Bank in the first quarter was CHF 1.75 billion, up 34% from first quarter 2005, making it the most profitable quarter ever. Revenue growth in all three business areas more than offset the increase in expenses. Cost levels rose mainly due to higher personnel expenses, reflecting revenue and business growth and the inclusion of the provision for the settlement agreement with Sumitomo Corporation. Compared with fourth quarter 2005, pre-tax profit was up 28%. Market risk for the Investment Bank, as measured by the average 10-day 99% Value at Risk, increased to CHF 429 million in first quarter 2006, from CHF 315 million in fourth quarter. Interest rate risk remained the largest portion of the overall Investment Bank VaR, but the contribution of equities gained in significance over the period, the firm said.