Wall Street was mixed with low volumes of trading Friday with major U.S. markets struggling to end in positive territory for the week. Futures for the S&P 500 were virtually unchanged before the bell,

However, the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 0.24%) is generally considered the best barometer for the overall U.S. stock market due to its scope and diversity. Read on to see the S&P 500's average return over the last decade, and to learn what Wall Street expects in the future.

Wall Street is sliding toward losses in premarket trading after Walmart, the nation’s biggest retailer and a bellwether for the health of the American consumer, gave a disappointing 2025 forecast.