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

The Standard & Poor's 500, or S&P 500, is a stock market index that measures the performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. It reflects the overall health of the U.S. economy and is often used as a benchmark for investment performance. The index includes companies from various sectors, such as technology, healthcare, and finance, making it a diverse representation of the market. Investors and analysts monitor the S&P 500 to gauge market trends and make informed investment decisions.