Royal Bank of Canada(US:RY) Jin Shi Shu Ju·2025-06-17 03:14Core Viewpoint - The RBC report indicates that the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could lead to a significant decline in the U.S. stock market, potentially dragging the S&P 500 index down to the range of 4800-5200 points, representing a possible drop of up to 20% [1][2] Group 1: Risks to the Stock Market - Valuation Risk: The S&P 500 index's price-to-earnings ratio tends to contract during periods of rising geopolitical uncertainty, and current valuations are close to historical highs, making them susceptible to negative news [1][2] - Market Sentiment Impact: The escalation of the Middle East situation may negatively affect consumer, investor, and corporate sentiment, which has been a key driver of recent stock market gains [2][3] - Oil Price Surge: If the conflict disrupts supply in the Middle East, oil prices may rise further, potentially increasing inflation and limiting the Federal Reserve's ability to cut interest rates in 2025 [3] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Consumer Confidence: Recent surveys indicate that CEO confidence has dropped to a three-year low, reflecting heightened caution among businesses and consumers [2] - Inflation Projections: RBC estimates that the conflict could push the preferred inflation measure of the Federal Reserve, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation, up by as much as 4%, which may restrict the Fed to only two rate cuts in the latter half of the year [3] - Year-End Target Adjustments: RBC has raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 5730 points, indicating a potential downside of 4% from current levels [3][4]