massive losses

Chinese state-funded investment company Citic Group increases its stake in its Hong Kong subsidiary in order to cover massive losses.

Goldman Sachs reports an 11% fall in quarterly profit, avoiding the massive losses sustained by some rivals.

UBS admits that a lack of risk control and ambitious growth plans led to massive losses in the credit crunch.

If there's a lesson to be learned from the stock market's recent slide - triggered by massive losses on exotic and risky mortgage-backed securities - it's that there's nothing wrong with simple, boring investments.

Like girders supporting a bridge, plain-vanilla bonds can help buttress a portfolio in a shaky market such as this.