• The S&P 500 Index, also known as the Standard & Poor's 500, is an index that monitors the top 500 major American company weighted by market capitalisations.
• The S&P 500 is widely regarded as a reliable indicator of the overall health of the U.S. economy and is closely followed by investors, traders, and financial analysts.
• The S&P 500 provides a broad snapshot of the performance of the U.S. stock market and is often used as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of individual stocks, mutual funds, etc.

• Economic data, such as GDP, inflation, and employment figures, can significantly impact the S&P 500 as they reflect the overall health of the economy.
• The performance of individual companies that make up the S&P 500 can influence the index.
• Changes in interest rates can impact the S&P 500, as they affect borrowing costs for corporations and can impact their earnings.
• Government policies, such as tax and trade policies, can impact the S&P 500, particularly for companies that operate in specific industries.
• Developments in other countries and global markets can impact the S&P 500, particularly for companies that have significant international operations.

The S&P 500 is most active during regular trading hours, which are from 09:30 to 16:00 Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. The most active times within this window are typically the first hour of trading and the last hour of trading.

• The S&P 500 is closely tied to the U.S. economy, making it an excellent barometer of economic conditions.
• The S&P 500 consists of 500 companies from various sectors, offering traders the opportunity to diversify their portfolio and minimise risk.
• As political and economic events can significantly impact the exchange rate of the EURGBP, this can provide opportunities for traders to profit from news-driven volatility.