Investors were looking for an excuse to take profits, says Piper Sandler's Craig Johnson

Core Viewpoint - The current market situation is characterized by a potential short-term pullback, with investors looking for opportunities to take profits, but the overall bull market is expected to continue into the next year [2][10]. Market Sentiment - Investors appear to be using the current market conditions as an excuse to take profits, indicating a lack of significant trading volume [4][5]. - The "buy the dip" mentality remains strong, suggesting that any pullback may be temporary [5][10]. Technical Indicators - A key technical indicator measuring the number of stocks above a 40-week moving average has been deteriorating since late August, potentially signaling a sell-off [6]. - The 14-period RSI has broken through the midpoint at 50, which historically has led to downward momentum in the market [7]. - There is a possibility of a pullback to the 50-day moving average around 5065 or even down to 6150, depending on market movements [8][9]. Institutional Behavior - Large institutions that did not participate in the recent market lows are looking for a short-term pullback to enter the market [10]. - The fourth year of a bull market typically sees positive returns, with expectations of around 12% growth for the full year [11].