Stock market indices can be described as baskets of shares. They are calculated based upon the average prices of a number of shares selected from a market or a particular sector. Their performance allows the investor to know the evolution and trends in the market. At the same time, indices serve as a reference for investors who specialize in funds or portfolios of shares. Following is a list of the principal stock indices on the world market.

The country risk premium is the return that investors demand from a country to buy its sovereign bonds in comparison with that demanded from other countries. It is calculated as the difference between the interest rate of a country’s bonds compared to bonds issued by a benchmark country, considered "riskless."

Credit ratings are estimates that gauge the ability of a company, public administration or financial product to meet their financial commitments. In many cases they are taken as key indicators in capital markets when making investment decisions.

The European Commission has unveiled a plan to bolster the development of financial technology (fintech) and he creation of new tools to combat cybercrime.  According to a commission report, "European consumers, investors and businesses will benefit from stronger and more integrated financial markets."

The European Union wants to boost the level of data protection for Europeans, and to this end, it has approved the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR establishes a series of new requirements, including the mandatory designation of a Data Protection delegate within institutions and companies handling sensitive data. The delegate will be responsible for ensuring that the personal information handled by these organizations is adequately protected. BBVA has already created that post, getting ahead of the standard’s effective date.

Investors and entrepreneurs will once again come together at the South Summit in Madrid, an encounter that has been a proven success in previous years. BBVA will have a distinguished participation in the event.

The transition to a more sustainable economic and financial system is key to boost the union of capital markets in Europe and ensure competitiveness, job creation and stable economic growth maintained Antoni Ballabriga at the European Banking Summit 2017 organized today in Brussels by the European Banking Federation (EBF).

BBVA’s Board of Directors resolved today to approve the payment of an interim dividend for 2017, for a gross amount of €0.09 per share, to be paid on October 10.

The recent elections in Germany have ended this year’s electoral cycle in Europe. With euroscepticism weighing in at the ballot box, it’s now up to the European Union to bring its institutions closer to the continent’s citizens, according to José Manuel González-Paramo, Executive Director of BBVA, speaking at a conference on “The New Europe: Challenges and Opportunities” organized by ADEIT.

Speaking this morning at the 22nd annual meeting organized by Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, Chief Financial Officer Jaime Sáenz de Tejada explained some of the key aspects BBVA’s strategy to investors.  "BBVA is well positioned for the new growth cycle", thanks to a solid balance sheet and capital position, as a result of the company’s efforts in recent years, its geographic diversification and forward-looking transformation strategy.