
The S&P 500 index, created in 1957, is the top indicator of the overall health of the US stock market. The index tracks the performance of the largest 500 companies that cover 80% of US equities by market cap.
The S&P 500 jumped over 18% year-to-date and may climb higher soon. During presidential election years involving a president running for reelection, as Joe Biden in 2024, the stock market has consistently generated positive returns in the latter half of the year, regardless of who won.