Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500)

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) is a stock market benchmark that tracks the performance of 500 large companies listed on U.S. exchanges. It represents a broad snapshot of the U.S. economy’s corporate health and investor sentiment. The index is weighted by market value, meaning larger companies have more influence on its movement. Investors and analysts use the S&P 500 to gauge overall market trends and economic conditions, making it a key indicator for financial markets. Its performance reflects how the largest publicly traded companies are doing financially over time.