Investors Await Retail Earnings and Fed Meeting Minutes as Market Volatility Continues

The **S&P 500** (Standard & Poor’s 500) is a major stock market index that tracks the stock performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States, representing about 80% of the total U.S. equity market capitalization[1][2]. Established initially as a 233-company index in 1923 by the Standard Statistics Company and expanded to 500 companies in 1957, it has become the premier benchmark for U.S. large-cap stocks and a key indicator of the overall health of the U.S. economy[4]. The index is capitalization-weighted, meaning companies with larger market values have greater influence on its performance. For example, as of late 2025, the ten largest companies—such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon—constitute roughly 38% of the index's market cap[1]. The S&P 500 covers all 11 sectors of the economy, providing broad diversification and a comprehensive snapshot of market trends[2][5]. In addition to serving as a market barometer, the S&P 500 is integral to economic forecasting, contributing to composite indicators like the Conference Board Leading Economic Index[1]. Its components are selected by a committee based on criteria such as market capitalization, liquidity, and sector representation[6]. Being included in the S&P 500 is prestigious and financially impactful for companies, as index funds tracking the S&P 500 must buy shares of newly added firms, often boosting their stock prices[2]. Today, the S&P 500 is maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, a division of S&P Global, and is widely used to benchmark investment portfolios, guide passive investing strategies, and evaluate firm performance[7][8]. Investors typically access the index through mutual funds or ETFs, gaining instant exposure to a broad swath of the U.S. market. Its role as a market proxy and investment vehicle makes it a cornerstone of bot

**Nasdaq** (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is a premier American stock exchange, recognized as the second-largest globally by market capitalization and the first fully electronic stock market. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in New York City, Nasdaq revolutionized trading by introducing an automated, transparent, and efficient platform, setting a technological benchmark for global financial markets[1]. Nasdaq operates as both a stock exchange and a technology company through its parent, Nasdaq, Inc., which also owns multiple other U.S. and Nordic exchanges. It hosts over 4,000 listed companies, including prominent technology giants, foreign firms primarily from China and Israel, and a broad range of industries. Its indices, notably the Nasdaq Composite and Nasdaq-100, are key barometers of technology sector performance and innovation trends[1]. Historically, Nasdaq's achievements include pioneering electronic trading systems, leading market innovations such as the Advanced Computerized Execution System (ACES), and continuously enhancing market accessibility and liquidity. Its fully electronic model has driven high trading volumes, making it the most active U.S. stock market by volume. Nasdaq also plans to expand trading hours to 24 hours a day, five days a week, pending regulatory approval as of early 2025[1]. In recent years, Nasdaq has demonstrated robust financial growth; Q1 2025 earnings showed a 12.5% revenue increase year-over-year to $1.2 billion, with its solutions business growing 11%, reflecting strong demand for market technology and data services. The annual recurring revenue reached $2.8 billion, indicating solid future revenue visibility[2]. Nasdaq continues to benefit from megatrends such as artificial intelligence commercialization, semiconductor industry leadership, and cloud infrastructure expansion, which dominate the growth narrative on its platform[5]. Overall, Nasdaq remains a cutting-edge financial market hub that blends technology innovation with capital market leadership, serving as a vital engine for global busines