The 52-week high for the Royal Bank Of Scotland share price was 427.50 pence, reached in February 2008.  (The share’s all-time high of 649 pence was reached as recently as May 2007.)

The Royal Bank Of Scotland share price closed today at 14 pence, 97% lower than its 52-week peak, the Bank having warned the City to brace itself for a £28 billion loss this year.

That’s £28 billion.

In one year.

According to International Monetary Fund statistics, the Royal Bank Of Scotland will lose more money in financial year 2008-9 than the entire country of Serbia made in the whole of calendar year 2007.

Or Bulgaria.

Or Tunisia.

Or major oil exporter Oman.

Sir Fred Goodwin, the man who led the Royal Bank Of Scotland off this cliff, remains the chairman of The Prince’s Trust, a charity one of whose main aims is is to help young people start a business.

Really, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.