Jorge Sicilia, BBVA Research Chief Economist, analyzed the announcement made by the BCE: “The European Central Bank (ECB) today (Thursday) sent a very clear message that finds the right balance between being aggressive and prudent."

BBVA Research has raised its growth forecasts for US growth and now sees GDP at 2.8% this year and the next due to the strength of the global economy and the Trump administration’s fiscal stimulus.

In Europe, 2018 has been off to a busy start in terms of regulation, with major changes that affect a broad range of industries, including the financial sector. First, in January, the second payments services directive came into force, while the new general data protection regulation (GDPR) will kick into force in May 25. Although the connection between both regulatory initiatives may not be evident, they pursue common goals: To allow citizens to control their personal data and increase security.

Human rights are an essential element of BBVA's purpose: “to bring the age of opportunity to everyone.” Its Commitment to human rights, approved in 2018, sets the foundations for further progress in that direction, involving all the people who work in BBVA’s ecosystem.

As expected, the European Central Bank left interest rates and its asset-purchasing program, or quantitative easing (QE), unchanged. After its policy meeting, Mario Draghi instead stressed concerns about the global risks posed by protectionism as well as the need to focus on inflation.

According to BBVA Research’s Latin America Economic Outlook report for the second quarter of 2018, the region’s positive trends of recent years are set to continue, with GDP growth forecasted at 1.4% for 2018 and 2.5% for 2019. However, BBVA’s study service has downgraded its 2018 growth forecast for the region by three tenths.