Market Indices
A market index tracks the performance of a specific "basket" of stocks that represent a particular market or economic sector. U.S. examples include the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 "blue chip" U.S. company stocks, the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, and the Wilshire 5000 Index, which includes most publicly traded U.S. stocks.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
A market index tracks the performance of a specific "basket" of stocks that represent a particular market or economic sector. U.S. examples include the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 "blue chip" U.S. company stocks, the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, and the Wilshire 5000 Index, which includes most publicly traded U.S. stocks. [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does Market Indices mean in the cited reference?
A market index tracks the performance of a specific "basket" of stocks that represent a particular market or economic sector. U.S. examples include the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 "blue chip" U.S. company stocks, the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, and the Wilshire 5000 Index, which includes most publicly traded U.S. stocks. [1]
Market Indices connection map
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Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.