UBS Loses More From Japan Equity Desk

The Swiss bank UBS has lost a total of five people from its Japan equity desk, a week after the research team had been ranked second in Japan behind Nomura Holdings. The departures of four analysts and the team’s top stock strategist were confirmed Tuesday.

Bloomberg reported that the Tokyo-based team, ranked by Nikkei Veritas magazine, had included the chief stock strategist Shoji Hirakawa and the analysts Fumihide Goto, who covered makers of electronic parts; Shinsuke Iwasa, who covered media stocks; Aya Fujiki, an insurance company analyst; and the energy analyst Sakura Shimizu.

Mariko Eguchi, a spokeswoman for the bank, declined to say whether their departures were voluntary, or to comment on the timing, how many people remain on the equities desk, or whether they will be replaced.