Do customers feel appreciated by companies? The 2016 Aspect Consumer Experience Index shows that they don’t - at least not in the U.S. In fact, according to Aspect, the percentage of U.S. customers that feel underappreciated increased from 50% in 2015 to 60% in 2016.

Speaking at BBVA’s 2016 results presentation, Francisco González said that after 10 years of working on the Group's transformation, progress is becoming increasingly evident for the bank’s customers. And how is that showing? In new digital services and products with a better user experience.

BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Sunbelt-based bank holding company (BBVA Compass), reported today net income of $89 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $92 million earned during the fourth quarter of 2015. Included in fourth quarter 2016 and 2015 results were goodwill impairment charges of $60 million and $17 million, respectively. Net income adjusted to exclude goodwill impairment was $149 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 and $109 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Return on average assets and return on average tangible equity(2) for the fourth quarter of 2016 were 0.40 percent and 4.51 percent, respectively.

The BBVA Group earned €3.48 billion in 2016, up 31.5% from the previous year and its highest figure since 2010. Solid performance of recurring revenues, moderation in operating expenses, and a drop in impairment losses on financial assets are the key drivers of this growth.

Spain ended 2016 with a record number of 75.6 million foreign tourists, up 10.3% year-on-year, according to the National Institute of Statistics’ Study on Tourist Movements on Borders (Fronter).

In Barcelona today, BBVA’s Executive Director José Manuel González-Páramo reflected on the factors that have influenced the current context of low, and even negative interest rates in developed economies. BBVA’s Executive Director shared his vision of what has led to this environment, the impact it is having on the markets and above all, where we are headed. In his opinion, low interest rates will remain for an extended period of time.

González-Páramo participated in the 25th anniversary of Inverco Catalunya where President Carlos Tusquets gave the opening speech. In his presentation titled, “Low interest rates: Where we are coming from, the impact and where we are going” BBVA’s Executive Director underscored that debate is currently focusing on estimating the amount of time low interest rates will remain, what will be the new equilibrium and what policies and strategies are appropriate for a change in trend.

As reported in Europa Press, new business creation rose 7.8% in Spain in 2016 from the previous year, reaching 102,396 - exceeding 100,000 annual operations for the first time since 2008, according to the Association of Registrar’s corporate statistics. However, the figures are still far from the all-time high of 150,000 new businesses registered in 2006.

93% of Spanish CEOs think that technology will change the way companies compete in the coming five years, according to PwC’s 20th CEO Survey, which was presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos.