Factbox-From trend to mainstay: AI to cement its place at the core of 2026 investment strategies

Group 1: Core Insights - Artificial intelligence is projected to remain central to investment strategies, with expectations of continued economic expansion and gains in the S&P 500 index [1][2] - Global GDP growth is estimated to be between 2.4% and 3.3%, indicating resilience in the global economy [2] Group 2: Stock Forecasts - Various brokerages have provided forecasts for the S&P 500 index in 2026, with targets ranging from 7,100 to 8,100 [3] - Notable targets include Citigroup at 7,700, Deutsche Bank at 8,000, and Oppenheimer Asset Management at 8,100 [3] Group 3: Real GDP Growth Estimates - Real GDP growth forecasts for the U.S. and other regions vary among brokerages, with Citigroup predicting 1.9% for the U.S. and Goldman Sachs at 2.3% [4] - Morgan Stanley projects a 3.2% growth rate globally, with 1.8% for the U.S. [4]