"Bear Jokes" by Sidra Monreal Burshteyn.Sidra Monreal Burshteyn/Comedy Wildlife Awards Despite a stock market that's less than 1% away from record highs, bearish forecasts are out in full force. Top economists and portfolio managers are warnings of everything from an imminent recession to the potential for a 65% stock-market crash. Outlined below are assorted high-profile bear forecasts from across Wall Street. Even with the stock market less than 1% away from a record high, top forecasters who have consistently leaned bearish can't shake the idea that a painful decline is imminent.