Natwest Buy-Back - Great Deal - but who benefits?

Another Buy-back that is poor value for existing shareholders. Why do Buy-backs always take place AFTER shares have been rising? 

Government cuts NatWest stake to 11.4%

HSBC to buy back $3 Billion in shares

Do buy-backs add any value, and for whom? Buying back shares might be a good idea, but the detail is in the timing. Looking at the price history of HSBC shares there would have several great opportunities to buy back shares at much lower price levels.
HSBC

29-Oct-2024

Elon Musk Pay Package at Tesla - no surprise there!

The normous pay package for Elon Musk is no surprise for anyone who is watching the (fruitless)  debate about the correct level of executive pay.
So far there has not been an agreement what approriate pay for senior executives, especially CEO's should be.
And I always argued that ANY level of pay could be justified under the current regime. If, say, a company earns 100 million and next year it earns 150 million, why no award the reigning CEO half of that increase? of even half of the total? (as some Hedge Funds do).
14-June-2024

Pension Plan Discrimination? - 3M to scrap Pension Plans for non-union employees

Given that Top/Chief/Senior Executives often/usually benefit from better Pension Plans (as well as Medical Benefits and Incentive Plans) is it acceptable that 3M takes this one step further and intends to scrap  its pension plans for non-union employees?