The 2017 business year will mark a turning point for Latin American economies, with an estimate growth of 1.3% for the region as a whole, compared to a 1.3% dip in 2016. This is what emerges from BBVA Research’s 4th Quarter Latin America Outlook report. The recovery, however, will be gradual and the region will remain well below potential growth, about 3%.

The European Central Bank (ECB) today announced the outcome of the third auction of TLTRO (targeted long-term refinancing operations). These long-term financing operations aim to stimulate lending in the euro zone. The demand for additional liquidity has reached 47.9 billion euros. In the first auction of the TLTRO-2, the demand for additional liquidity was 36 billion euros and, in the second, was 34 billion euros.

After a yearlong pause, the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise interest rates 25bp to 0.5-0.75%. Based on the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen’s press conference, it seems the recent market exuberance has not diverted the Fed from its current strategy for a gradual increases. The press conference reinforced the idea that the committee may be somewhat tolerant in the short-run, but that it would like to see fiscal policy directed at boosting productivity rather than stimulating the economy.

Managing processes and people can be one of the most challenging tasks for any organization. It requires not only making the most out of the available resources, but also optimizing time, coordinating the team, defining action protocols and assigning tasks. And when all this has to be carried out in the context of challenging projects developed in dynamic environments, the most common option is to resort to the so-called scrum methodology. So, what qualities do the people leading these work groups have to bring to the team?

The ECB will keep interest rates unchanged and extend its bond-buying program until the end of 2017, although for a lower amount, starting in April. Draghi did not rule out the possibility of new extensions if conditions are not favorable. The market reacted with significant increases.

Just as the BBVA Group is reinventing itself to offer the best customer experience and customer experience and lead the new financial industry, we at BBVA Paraguay are hard at work to contribute to this transformation process. And we have the best talent in the country to do so.

If there is something that unites the BBVA Paraguay team is its members’ passion for the brand. And no other color reflects that passion better than blue.

BBVA Compass repeated its participation in the AFPAware Community Service Day and helped the most disadvantaged. This year, the Community Service Day took place in Orlando and raised 4,500 kilos of food and 2,000 care kits for abuse victims and families in need.

In the last five years, Paraguay’s economy grew at an annual average rate of around 5% - one of the highest in the region. This economic performance is especially remarkable considering it occurred in a rather volatile international environment, characterized by turbulent international financial markets, lower capital inflows to emerging economies and falling prices for metals and agricultural products. The Paraguayan economy was also affected by declining activity of some the region’s most significant trade partners.