Certainly, Tsang's decisions look better after a 13% rise in stock prices since the end of intervention and the near-collapse of U.S. hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management, which shook world markets and sparked a Washington-orchestrated bailout.

CNN: FIGHTING 'GODZILLAS'

In recent years, the most blatant political intervention in the standard-setting process has been over the stock options that many companies grant to their employees.

ECONOMIST: Company accounts

These unpredictable and extreme events cast a pall over the stock market that was difficult to overcome, and included government intervention that affected the market.

FORBES: Rising Market Means Obama Wins