How to Help a Sick French Bank Look Healthy

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Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- It’s no secret that the methods manybanks use for calculating capital ratios are a farce, especiallyat large European lenders. Sometimes the numbers are so over-the-top, all you can really do is sit back and admire thechutzpah.

Consider France’s third-largest bank, Credit Agricole SA,which today reported a third-quarter loss of 2.85 billion euros($3.62 billion), sending its stock down 6 percent.