The phrase "a modest downside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small or minor disadvantage or negative aspect of something.
Example: "While the new software has many benefits, there is a modest downside in terms of its learning curve."
Alternatives: "a slight drawback" or "a minor disadvantage."
Still, to look for a 27% decline at this bank is a tall order in this environment, which indicate the trader simply sees modest downside risk at WFC. iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index : Ongoing angst regarding prospects in China have been heightened Wednesday given clear signs of excess capacity.
"The lower magnitude of brand price increases could present modest downside risk to wholesaler earnings," healthcare services analyst Robert Jones wrote in a note to clients.
Valuation also gives only modest downside protection we feel.
But a message to Morgan Stanley's salespeople yesterday morning summarizing Ms. Meeker's views on Amazon, began this way: "Mary believes there will be no upside to her June and September revenue estimates and there could be some modest downside".
That's essentially a mutual fund to which is attached a modest tax deferral and just enough downside protection to make the economics of the deal murky.
For Japan, the statement said a "modest recovery" was expected, but warned that "downside risks remain".
A modest upside in return for a large but improbable downside.
"Household spending has been increasing at only a modest pace in recent months". The Fed said the economy faced "significant downside risks"; one of those risks being the volatility in financial markets around the world.
The dollar was up; gold and silver were slipping and what began as a modest pull-back on the major US stock indices was beginning to gather downside momentum.
By the end of the trading day on Tuesday Disney's peers were mostly to the downside, as News Corp., Time Warner and CBS all finished in the red, though Viacom enjoyed a modest increase.
