U.S. stock indexes are edging lower on a relatively quiet Wall Street. The S&P 500 slipped by 0.2%, a day after setting an all-time high.

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.

China’s technology stocks slumped Wednesday after a brief bull run earlier in the week. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-traded stock fell 1.03%, while search engine giant Baidu fell 2.11% after it reported a 2% drop in revenue for its fourth quarter compared to a year earlier as artificial intelligence rivalry heats up in China.

Shares in Asia are mostly higher, with Chinese technology stocks surging after Chinese President Xi Jinping met with entrepreneurs this week in what is seen as a show of support to the technology industry.