Wall Street Banks Rethink Stock Market Outlook as Uncertainty Grows

Wall Street’s biggest banks are rethinking their stock market outlook, with JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley adjusting their expectations amid growing economic uncertainty.

JPMorgan’s Andrew Tyler now sees short-term downside risks for equities, citing economic headwinds and investor sentiment turning defensive. His team attributes much of the weakness to ongoing trade tensions under President Donald Trump, warning that markets may react by shifting to recessionary strategies.

Recent tariff hikes on Canada and Mexico, triggering a 500-point drop in the Dow, have only fueled concerns. Goldman Sachs’ David Kostin argues that stock valuations haven’t fallen enough to justify a rebound and believes market strength will only return alongside economic improvement.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s Andrew Slimmon predicts lackluster stock performance in 2025, describing it as a potential “pause year” following the extended bull run since 2023. He points to persistent high interest rates and geopolitical instability as factors that could dampen investor optimism.

Interestingly, all three firms were previously bullish on the S&P 500, forecasting a climb to 6,500 points by 2025 under Trump’s economic policies. Now, with markets shedding $3.4 trillion in value, that confidence appears to be wavering.