Royal Bank of Canada(US:RY) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-06-16 11:44Group 1 - RBC Capital Markets predicts a potential 20% drop in the S&P 500 index if Middle East conflicts drive up oil prices and inflation [1] - In the worst-case scenario, the S&P 500 could fall to 4800 points, testing April's lows, based on assumptions of a 4% inflation rate and zero corporate earnings growth in 2024 [1] - Even in a moderate scenario, a 13% decline is expected, with a year-end target around 5200 points, while the baseline target is set at 5730 points, approximately 4% lower than current levels [1] Group 2 - The negative impact on U.S. stocks increases with the extent and duration of the Middle East conflict, as current valuation levels are stretched and any external shock could trigger a market correction [2] - Some analysts, like Morgan Stanley's Michael Wilson, suggest that certain indicators may point to better-than-expected corporate earnings performance in the coming year [2]