Goldman Sachs has predicted additional ache for a raft of European indices over the brief time period, with one anticipated to be firmly in a bear market by the top of the yr. The Euro Stoxx 600 is anticipated to fall by practically 8% by the top of this yr, the funding financial institution stated in a report back to purchasers on Monday. On Tuesday, the index fell by 0.1% and was buying and selling round 388. It is also down round 8% during the last month. If it have been to fall to 360, as Goldman expects, it might be decrease by greater than 25% from its latest peak earlier this yr. Goldman predicted that the index of pan-European massive corporations will return to present ranges over the following six months, however ought to enhance to 410 in a yr – a 9% rise, together with dividends. The Wall Road financial institution additionally downgraded its worth goal for the FTSE 100 to 6600 and the Euro Stoxx 50 to 3100 for the following three months. That may be a decline of 6% and seven.4% respectively from present ranges. “Now we have been bearish on equities, arguing that this bear market just isn’t but over,” the analysts stated. What’s driving the downgrades? Goldman stated its forecast for a recession in Europe in 2023 had “deepened.” It now expects euro space economies to contract by 0.4% subsequent yr, worse than beforehand anticipated. GDP within the U.Ok. can be prone to fall by 0.3% subsequent yr, in response to the financial institution. The analysis observe stated that rate of interest hikes by the European Central Financial institution and the Financial institution of England, together with hovering power prices because of the diminished circulation of fuel from Russia, will result in a “average” recession within the coming months. Though pure fuel costs have fallen from their late August peak, they continue to be increased by at the very least ten instances their long-term common. Goldman additionally stated that whereas wholesome family funds, a robust job market and sponsored power costs will “soften the affect” of rising rates of interest, it will likely be inadequate to mitigate it totally. The way to place Goldman Sachs is especially bearish in terms of earnings forecasts for European corporations. A survey by FactSet reveals that analysts anticipate earnings per share for 2023 in Europe to develop by 3%. In distinction, Goldman expects EPS to say no by 10% subsequent yr. A lot of different market individuals are additionally turning adverse on earnings expectations. “As development slows, and prices proceed to rise, we anticipate margins to be hit,” the analysts stated. The Wall Road big predicted that retailers could be probably the most affected as a consequence of their dependence on shopper incomes for income. The development and chemical sectors are additionally weak as a consequence of their publicity to excessive power costs, it added. The financial institution is underweight on all three sectors. It’s chubby (OW) on “some defensive” sectors, together with healthcare and telecoms, in addition to banks and power. “We favour a barbell method, with some high quality areas, for instance our Excessive & Secure Margins basket … the place EPS is prone to stay resilient, some Defensives (OW Healthcare, Telecoms, Defence …) and a few Worth areas which we predict are significantly underpriced,” the analysts wrote. Since February, Goldman Sachs stated it had seen fund managers promoting European shares each week. Nevertheless, it warned that whereas the promoting wasn’t massive but, a comparability with earlier downturns confirmed that there’s extra to return.