Breakingviews - This Week's Highlights: HSBC's Significant Burden

HSBC Leadership Challenges: HSBC has struggled to find a suitable chairperson, with Brendan Nelson appointed permanently after a lengthy search. The complexity and demands of the role, combined with a relatively low salary compared to competitors, have made recruitment difficult.

Historical Context of HSBC's Leadership: The bank's leadership history shows a preference for internal candidates, with significant changes occurring only after major financial losses. The recent appointment of Nelson, who is 76, raises questions about the future stability of the leadership.

Market Dynamics and Short-Selling: The decline in short-sellers in financial markets is creating an imbalance, allowing fraudulent activities to flourish. This situation mirrors ecological issues faced by habitats in the past, highlighting the importance of diverse market perspectives.

BBC's Financial and Impartiality Crisis: The BBC is facing a crisis over impartiality, exacerbated by a controversial edit of a Trump speech, leading to threats of legal action from the U.S. president and the resignation of its director-general. This incident underscores the broadcaster's financial struggles and the potential for a leaner future.