The S&P 500 is a stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the [[United States of America (USA)]]. It's considered one of the best representations of the U.S. stock market and is widely used as a benchmark for the overall market's health. The companies included in the S&P 500 are selected by a committee based on factors like market capitalization, liquidity, and sector representation. Because it covers a broad range of industries, the S&P 500 provides a diversified view of the U.S. economy. See also [[Nasdaq]]