Market Performance: January 2, 2024.

The top 25 stocks in the S&P 500 by weighting represent the largest, most influential companies in the index and are indicative of the performance of the overall stock market and the health of the U.S. economy. The index weights constituents by market capitalization, meaning companies with larger market values carry greater importance than smaller-sized firms.

Large-cap technology companies such as Apple Inc. (AAPL), Amazon Inc. (AMZN), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), and Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) combined hold over $8 trillion in total market-cap, which makes these companies very influential in the overall outlook.

The table below lists the S&P 500's top sectors by weighting as of Dec. 14, 2023. The information technology, healthcare, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors carry a cumulative weight of 64.6%. Conversely, the least weighted sectors include utilities, materials, and real estate, with a combined weight of just 7.3%.

10 Things the Middle Class Won’t Be Able To Afford in Less Than a Decade

In a world where the financial landscape is constantly shifting, the middle class often finds itself in a precarious position. Caught between the affluence of the wealthy and the struggles of the lower economic tiers, middle-class individuals are increasingly facing financial challenges that could significantly alter their lifestyle in the coming decade.

Private Education for Children

Private schooling offers certain advantages but comes at a significant cost. If the gap between public and private education costs continues to widen, it might become an option only for the wealthy.

High-Speed Internet and Premium Streaming Services

In our increasingly digital world, fast internet is a necessity. However, the cost of high-speed internet and subscriptions to multiple premium streaming services might become a significant burden for middle-class budgets.

Personal Fitness and Wellness Services

Personalized fitness and wellness services, including personal trainers, dieticians, and boutique fitness classes, are becoming more popular. However, their cost is also rising, potentially making them luxuries that only the upper class can afford regularly.

Free & Low-Budget Marketing Ideas for Any Business

​Small businesses often have a tight marketing budget to work with, which can make promoting your business a challenge.

The good news is, there are plenty of ways for you to market yourself to your customers without spending any (or much) money.

Create a free Google My Business account

For local businesses especially, a Google Business Profile has become one of the most effective free marketing strategies available. This must-have piece of marketing collateral allows your business to show up on Google Maps, the local section of Google Search, and the right-side Knowledge Panel for branded searches.

Post (and engage) on social media

Increasing social media engagement and building a community online is a free way to grow your small business while expressing your brand’s personality and building trust with your audience. Create business accounts and participate in the big social media sites—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and more. This is something you can do whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

Now as a business owner, you probably don’t have the time to research and identify these free marketing ideas, so we’ve taken care of that for you. In this post, you’ll find a ton of free and low-budget ways to market your business.

Alternative Investing