The index that gives the broadest picture of stock performance among the options listed is the S & P 500.
The S & P 500 includes 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. and is widely regarded as a strong representation of the overall stock market and U.S. economy. In comparison:
- The Dow (Dow Jones Industrial Average) includes only 30 large companies and is more focused on industrial sectors.
- The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange rather than an index, though it does have its own indexes (like the NYSE Composite).
- The OTC (over-the-counter) refers to a decentralized market for trading securities and includes various stocks that are not listed on major exchanges, but it's not a single index.
Thus, the S & P 500 is the best choice for a broad measure of stock market performance.