In an unexpected turn, HSBC experienced a drastic 80% reduction in its fourth-quarter earnings.
![HSBC London Headquarters in the City's Canary Wharf District. PHOTO: Shutterstock](https://krugmaninsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1629195100HSBCLondonwebsite-_1_-1024x683.webp)
This significant decline was primarily due to unforeseen charges linked to its investments in a Chinese bank and the sale of its French retail operations,