Key facts
- The S&P 500 index has surpassed 7,600 for the first time.
- A year ago, the S&P 500 was at 5,900.
- Five years ago, the S&P 500 was at 4,200.
- Ten years ago, the S&P 500 was at 2,100.
The S&P 500 is a stock market index tracking 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. It is widely regarded as the best gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and a key indicator of the overall health of the U.S. stock market and economy.