Crédit Agricole, the Paris-based investment banking and consumer finance firm,  announced plans to cut 2,350 jobs as it scales back operations to adapt to continued instability in the world’s financial markets.  The layoffs will be spread throughout the company - from Europe to Wall Street.  Rival bank Société Générale also plans to eliminate jobs in New York. France’s 3rd-largest listed bank also said it expects to report a loss in 2011, having written down €2.5 billion euros, or $3.2 billion - primarily connected to its investment banking division.  Current economic instability, particularly around the Europe’s ongoing debt crisis, has made it difficult for Credit Agricole to outline its future financial targets. On Friday, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Crédit Agricole, along with Société Générale and BNP Paribas, citing funding problems. The ratings agency also warned that the banks faced further losses on their holdings of Greek and Italian government bonds if the crisis in the euro zone were to deepen.   [Dealbook, 12/14/11]