Stock Market

Is your money working for you or sitting idle? Know how every asset, tangible, intangible, and financial, shapes stability and drives long-term financial success.

A Guide to the Index’s Returns, Performance History, and Investment Options When people talk about “the market,” they’re often referring to the performance of the S&P 500 index. Since 1957, this benchmark index has delivered an average annual return of over 10%—a figure that has created substantial gains for long-term investors. However, that number tells only part of the story.

The S&P 500 consists of 500 companies that have issued a total of 504 stocks. Some companies such as Alphabet have issued multiple classes of shares. The top 10 largest holdings are listed on the official S&P Global website. An S&P 500 company must meet specific requirements to be included as a constituent within the index.

Get ready for a four-day trading week—if you trade bonds. With several key economic reports expected to be delayed by the government shutdown, investors will this week focus largely on corporate earnings reports. And some will get a short break: Bond markets, banks and government offices will close Tuesday for the Veterans Day holiday, though stock markets will remain open.