JPMorgan on Tuesday, April 21, raised its forecast for the S&amp;P 500 index for the end of 2026 to 7,600 points, explaining it by the growth of profits of companies associated with AI and technology. This comes just weeks after the bank, on the contrary, lowered its forecast for the index from 7,500 to 7,200 points, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/jp-morgan-lifts-sp-500-year-end-target-7600-ai-driven-earnings-2026-04-21/">writes</a>. The new target suggests a potential upside of about 6.9% relative to Monday's closing level.

Wall Street analysts are raising their 2026-2027 earnings per share forecasts for companies in the S&amp;P 500. What's so special about this? 

Shell plc

Naturgy Energy Group, S.A.

E.ON SE

Enel SpA

TotalEnergies SE

Exxon Mobil Corporation

EDP, S.A.

Engie SA

RWE Aktiengesellschaft

Iberdrola, S.A.

Ministers of key EU countries - Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria - <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/five-eu-finance-ministers-call-windfall-profit-tax-energy-companies-2026-04-04/">have called for</a> the introduction of a pan-European tax on excess profits of energy companies. By design, a windfall tax could ease the burden on consumers. For investors, this means the risk of pressure on dividends, share buyback programs and free cash flow in the sector.

Tax on excess profits for oil producers: what is the risk of the EU initiative for investors? 

Customers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to optimize their personal finances

Banks could lose $170 billion in profits due to AI - McKinsey

The S&amp;P 500 index remains at an all-time high despite risks from duties and overheated valuations. Investors so far ignore the threat of a trade war, believing that Donald Trump will not go for tough measures. Still, Wall Street analysts warn: even the duties already in place are starting to hit businesses, eroding profits and stoking inflation. Bloomberg economists forecast a slowdown in U.S. GDP growth, and some investment banks, including Morgan Stanley and UBS, believe the market is vulnerable to a 5-10 or even 20% correction.

Profit