Goldman Sachs Sees Stock Upturn, Eyes 12% Growth

0:00It's April 1st. Welcome in. This is Durham News Today, where local news meets AI. Goldman Sachs just dropped a surprisingly upbeat take on stocks right before April kicks off. They say the recent sell-off, fueled by tensions in the Middle East, actually cleared the deck for investors. Positioning got less crowded, and sky-high expectations reset to something more realistic. The S&P 500 closed Friday at 6,500-828.52, jumping 184.80 points, or 2.91% in a big relief rally. That bounce came on hopes of cooling off in Iran, dropping oil prices and tech stocks roaring back. Still, the index sits about 330 points, or 4.8%, below its January 2nd, 2026 peak of 6,000. 858.47 Goldman builds on similar vibes from Morgan Stanley, noting capital rotating from gold back to equities. Wall Street's buzzing with the shift, putting all eyes on first quarter earnings starting soon.

1:04Investors aren't banking on massive AI surprises anymore. Instead, they're watching guidance closely amid higher energy costs and supply snags hitting. margins outside tech. If CEO sound confident, it could spark more buying and quality stocks. Other big banks are piling on too. Barclays hiked its 2026 S&P earnings forecast to $321 per share, fact said. Sees 13% growth for the first quarter, and more like UBS and Wells Fargo raised targets. Key reports from Bank of America on April 15th. TSMC and Netflix on 16th, and United Health on 21st, could set the tone across. Banking, chips, consumers, and health costs. Goldman eyes. 12% full year earnings growth. If Middle East drama fades quick. For now, this sets up a balanced runway grab dips in solid names with strong demand and upbeat outlooks. And the market might just stabilize into. Spring.