Goldman Sachs expects the S&P 500 index to rise by a more modest 9 percent by the end of next year, saying the record-setting rally is likely to cool on worries over slowing economic growth and the prospects of higher interest rates. The U.S. equities market has been on a tear this year, with the benchmark index surging about 25 percent as the economy recovers from the pandemic lows, driving corporate earnings. However, Goldman’s forecast for the index was in contrast with that of Morgan Stanley, which expects the S&P 500 to move lower in 2022, with a base case target of 4,400. Goldman is expecting the index to hit 5,100 by the end of next year. It closed at 4,682.80 on Monday “Decelerating economic growth, a tightening Fed, and rising real yields suggest investors should expect modestly below-average returns next year,” Goldman Sachs analyst David Kostin said in a …