The equity quantitative team at Bank of America Merrill Lynch thinks this complacent stock market, lulled to sleep by high expectations for growth and central bank stimulus, is “ripe for disappointment.” What does disappointment look like? Markets could fall by 8% before year end, as the bank lowered its price target on the S&P 500 to significantly lower levels than present.

After adding discretionary overlay, BAML says stocks could drop to 2,000 level by year end
Considering BAML’s S&P 500 target models that incorporate valuation, sentiment and technicals, the S&P 500 might be expected to find a year-end value of 2150 if this formula were devoid of...

