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ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND ISSUES DIRE WARNINGS: "A VERY NASTY PERIOD ... SOON"

Date: Wednesday, 18 June 2008, 7:02 a.m.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has advised clients to brace for a full-fledged crash in global stock and credit markets over the next three months as inflation paralyses the major central banks. "A very nasty period is soon to be upon us - be prepared," said Bob Janjuah, the bank's credit strategist. A report by the bank's research team warns that the S&P 500 index of Wall Street equities is likely to fall by more than 300 points to around 1050 by September as "all the chickens come home to roost" from the excesses of the global boom, with contagion spreading across Europe and emerging markets. RBS warning: Be prepared for a 'nasty' period Such a slide on world bourses would amount to one of the worst bear markets over the last century. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor