Svmuu News UBS A research report dated April 16 noted that, based on the bank’s baseline scenario, a diplomatic resolution to the Middle East conflict would allow investors to refocus on healthy economic and earnings fundamentals. The bank stated that, even as the Middle East crisis unfolded, it continued to view global and U.S. equity markets as attractive.The bank expects the first-quarter earnings season for U.S. stocks to be strong, highlighting an optimistic outlook for corporate profits. Earnings per share (EPS) are projected to grow by 17% this quarter, marking the fastest growth rate since the fourth quarter of 2021.However, the bank also anticipates that the path to a long-term ceasefire in the Middle East will be fraught with difficulties, and even if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes, it will take time for global energy markets to return to normal.Consequently, we recently raised our forecast for the price of Brent crude oil at the end of June from $90 per barrel to $100 per barrel.Given the outlook for the energy market, we have become more cautious on the stock markets most sensitive to high fuel costs—including those in the eurozone and India—and have downgraded our rating from “Attractive” to “Neutral.” (Jin Shi)