Stephen Green was on typically engaging form at HSBC's annual general meeting today, but it soon became evident the bank's chairman would need all of his patience and diplomacy as he faced resignation calls, tough questions on lending to ninjas, and accusations of "flawed wisdom" from a shareholder in striking crimson garb.

Opening the meeting this morning at the City of London's Barbican Centre, Green took the stage against a backdrop of deep red drapes to declare HSBC has "withstood the storm better than most" of its rivals and to say the bank's board was humbled by the strong shareholder take-up of the bank's rights issue.