MADRID, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - Spain's second-largest bank BBVA on Thursday cut its economic growth forecast for Spain for this year and the next and predicted unemployment could surpass 14 percent by the end of 2009 in the eurozone's fourth largest economy.

MADRID, July 28, 2008 (AFP) - BBVA bank, the second-biggest Spanish bank, said on Monday its first-half net profit fell by 7.9 percent to 3.11 billion euros (4.88 billion dollars) owing mostly to a drop in gains from one-off items.

MADRID, June 3, 2008 (AFP) - Spain's second-largest bank BBVA said Tuesday it had agreed to pay 800 million euros (1.2 billion dollars) to double its holdings in Chinese bank CITIC.

MADRID, April 28, 2008 (AFP) - Spain's second largest bank, BBVA, said Monday its first quarter net earnings rose 14.9 percent to 1.44 billion euros (2.25 billion dollars), slightly above analyst forecasts.

Including one-off items, such as the sale of its 5.01 percent stake in the Brazilian bank Bradesco for 509 million euros, net profit came to 1.95 billion euros.

MADRID, April 7, 2008 (AFP) - Spain's second-largest bank, BBVA, on Monday cut its Spanish growth forecast for 2008 and predicted unemployment would keep rising due to international financial turmoil and a correction on the country's once buoyant housing market.

MADRID, Nov 19, 2007 (AFP) - Spain's second largest bank, BBVA, said Monday it would sell its 6.99 stake in the country's flag carrier Iberia, the target of two takeover bids, for 240 million euros (352 million dollars).

MADRID, Oct 24, 2007 (AFP) - Spain's second largest bank, BBVA, reported a 19.5 percent gain in third quarter net earnings Wednesday to 1.339 billion euros (1.9 billion dollars) compared with the same period last year despite a rise in credit risk.

The results were consistent with forecasts by analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial News, who had predicted an earnings range of 1.228-1.392 billion euros.

Over nine months net earnings rose 6.7 percent to 4.756 billion euros, while net banking profit was up 15.5 percent at 7.025 billion euros, BBVA said.