By , MADRID (Reuters) - Major Spanish regions shut shops, bars and restaurants, car plants ground to a halt and Easter parades were canceled as Spain prepared to enter a 15-day state of emergency on Friday, in a sharp escalation of its fight against the coronavirus.Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the number of cases could top 10,000 by next week - more than double the current level - and asked citizens to play their part.“Heroism is also washing your hands and staying home,” Sanchez said in a televised address to the nation on Friday.Spain has the second-highest number of coronavirus...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - Major Spanish regions shut shops, bars and restaurants, car plants ground to a halt and Easter parades were canceled as Spain prepared to enter a 15-day state of emergency on Friday, in a sharp escalation of its fight against the coronavirus.Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the number of cases could top 10,000 by next week - more than double the current level - and asked citizens to play their part.“Heroism is also washing your hands and staying home,” Sanchez said in a televised address to the nation on Friday.Spain has the second-highest number of coronavirus...WW…

By A BBVA/Sabadell merger would mark a significant step in this process, coming after Caixabank agreed in September to buy Bankia for 4.3 billion euros.If a BBVA/Sabadell deal goes ahead, the new bank would have nearly 600 billion euros ($710.52 billion) in assets in Spain and a combined market value, based on Monday’s closing share prices, of 26.7 billion euros, Reuters calculations using Refinitiv data showed.Banks across Europe are struggling to cope with record low interest rates, and the economic downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is forcing them to focus on further cost...…By A BBVA/Sabadell merger would mark a significant step in this process, coming after Caixabank agreed in September to buy Bankia for 4.3 billion euros.If a BBVA/Sabadell deal goes ahead, the new bank would have nearly 600 billion euros ($710.52 billion) in assets in Spain and a combined market value, based on Monday’s closing share prices, of 26.7 billion euros, Reuters calculations using Refinitiv data showed.Banks across Europe are struggling to cope with record low interest rates, and the economic downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is forcing them to focus on further cost...WW…