"I think the transaction line on wealth management is clearly under pressure – but you know, I see the rest of the businesses performing in line with our expectations," he was quoted as saying in the transcript of a Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference on Thursday that the bank posted on its website on Friday.

Speaking about business in Asia and how the situation compared to 2015, Ermotti said: "This time I really found clients much, much more insecure and actually I can tell you that I can see that also being reflected in the transaction line of our revenues, which you know is down around 10-11 percent as we speak."

(Reporting by Angelika Gruber; Editing by Michael Shields)