In this episode of "This Week in Wall Street History," host Todd M. Schoenberger delves into the dramatic downfall of Barings Bank, Britain's oldest merchant bank, brought about by the actions of a single trader, Nick Leeson. In the early 1990s, Leeson was a rising star at Barings, generating significant profits through speculative trades. However, his unauthorized and increasingly risky positions, concealed within error accounts, led to escalating losses. The situation reached a tipping point in 1995 when Leeson's massive bets on the Japanese stock market, following the Kobe earthquake, resulted in catastrophic losses exceeding £800 million. This financial debacle rendered the 233-year-old institution insolvent, leading to its acquisition by ING for a nominal £1. Leeson's subsequent flight, arrest, and imprisonment serve as a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked risk-taking and inadequate oversight in financial institutions. Join us as we explore the events that led to this monumental collapse and the lessons it imparts on modern finance.

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