NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Breakingviews readers displayed eclectic financial curiosity in 2021. As the pandemic ran into its second year, our most-read agenda-setting financial insights spanned mergers and acquisitions, Wall Street, cryptocurrencies, airlines, meme stocks and a decent sampling of Chinese companies. On Breakingviews.com, dealmaking was at the forefront of readers’ minds. Our best-read story of the year was about U.S. telecommunications giant AT&T’s (T.N) clumsy $16 billion spinoff of its pay-TV business read more. Next came our take on pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm’s (1099.HK) attempt to take private herbal supplements company China Traditional Chinese Medicine (0570.HK) via a consortium read more. Third was a peek at British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline"s (GSK.L) troubles read more. Embattled People"s Republic property developer Evergrande’s (3333.HK) downward spiral also appeared in the top 10 read more, as did the GameStop (GME.N) meme-stock whodunnit read more . Over on Refinitiv’s Eikon platform, Morgan Stanley’s (MS.N) brush with the failure of Archegos Capital Management took top billing read more . Coinbase Global’s (COIN.O) listing came second, highlighting crypto’s paradoxical moment read more. Archegos featured in third spot, too, with a look at how the mess highlighted Wall Street’s weak spots read more. Meanwhile clicks on Reuters.com, which showcases a selection of Breakingviews articles, emphasized U.S. news. The possibility of an American airline going bust read more – something that has yet to transpire – made the top spot. The top 10 also encompassed the challenges President Joe Biden’s economic dream team faced in his first year in office read more . Even here, though, China featured: The second most-read item was about Chinese consumer-credit default risks read more . Meme stocks and crypto inevitably made the list, too. Our readers still major on Western financial markets, especially America"s. But in comparison with recent years, they were less likely in 2021 to be spooked by Covid-19 and more likely to scrutinize Chinese companies and trends. As the pandemic evolves into something endemic, that may be the way the world is going, too. BREAKINGVIEWS.COM TOP 10 AT&T clumsily cuts the cord on DirecTV read more Sinopharm inhales invigorating Chinese herbs read more GSK CEO’s best defence is a graceful exit read more Evergrande’s downward spiral runs off the page read more Bumble IPO is less alluring than its profile pic read more McKinsey’s public problem may have public solution read more Bolloré and Ackman will beat the Vivendi activists read more Breakdown: GameStop, a financial markets whodunnit read more Chinese developer undercuts Wall Street’s ESG push read more Credit Suisse’s spring clean has barely started read more REFINITIV EIKON TOP 10 Morgan Stanley picked good time to back bad client read more Coinbase float is crypto’s paradoxical moment read more Archegos mess revisits Wall Street weak spots read more Short squeezers could end up strangling themselves read more Banks’ prime broking blowup reveals lurking danger read more Morgan Stanley serves up best of two weird worlds read more Tesla will give up pole position in China read more AT&T shows breaking up can be worth it read more Running Wells Fargo just got even more thankless read more How to pick the hydrogen industry’s future Amazon read more REUTERS.COM TOP 10 "Big Four" U.S. airlines may go down to three read more China creates a bigger consumer credit mess read more White supremacy dies hard on the grocery shelf read more America’s safe-haven status gets violent test read more AMC’s valuation is a date with derangement read more Chancellor: Was I totally wrong about bitcoin? read more Robinhood free lunch was never really free read more Big U.S. banks keep their powder a bit too dry read more Biden’s SEC pick is ominous sign for Wall St read more Biden’s dream team faces a nightmare read more Follow @alpgomez and @sharonlamhk on Twitter