Several of these banks (minus banks like Credit Agricole) are under severe losses due to the credit crisis the truth about which has still not completely unfolded. On paper - these banks may be the largest but in reality - several of these don't really qualify if you actually take a look at their assets. UBS, Deutsche and Barclays are facing their worst ever nightmares post the sub-prime fiasco. All this is therefore not "absolute" but "obsolete" truth.
