This is a bull market with a 'lower cased b' heading into 2026, says Piper Sandler's Craig Johnson

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is showing signs of a continuing bull market, with the Santa Claus rally expected to occur during the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year [1] - There have been 39 new highs in the market, indicating potential for further upside, although the current bull market is characterized as a lowercase "b" as it heads into 2026 [2] Commodity Insights - The chart for copper indicates a strong upward trend, with potential for an additional 6-7% increase to reach the upper end of its trading range, making copper a favored metal for 2026 [3][4] - The basic materials sector, driven by gold and silver, has been the best performing sector year-to-date, with the GDX showing about 17% more upside potential [5] Currency Impact - The dollar index is on track for its worst year since 2017, which is influencing the attractiveness of gold and silver as central governments opt to buy these metals instead of treasuries [6][7] Biotech Sector - The biotech sector is positioned for growth, especially if rate cuts occur in 2026, with the XBI showing a favorable setup and potential for further gains [7][8] - Specific companies within the biotech index, such as Xalixus, Regeneron, and Travera, are demonstrating constructive chart patterns, suggesting that biotech could become a new focus for momentum investors in the coming year [9]