Pointer and Benchmark

noun

• A mark to indicate a direction or relation.
  • synonyms: arrow
• An indicator as on a dial.
• Computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it allows the user to point to commands or screen positions.
  • synonyms: cursor
• A strong slender smooth-haired dog of Spanish origin having a white coat with brown or black patches; scents out and points to game.
  • synonyms: Spanish pointer

• (n.) The two stars (Merak and Dubhe) in the Great Bear, the line between which points nearly in the direction of the north star.
• (n.) One who or that which, points.
• (n.) The hand of a timepiece.
• (n.) Diagonal braces sometimes fixed across the hold.
• (n.) One of a breed of dogs trained to stop at scent of game, and with the nose point it out to sportsmen.

noun

• A standard by which something can be measured or judged.
  • usage: "his painting sets the benchmark of quality"
• A surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point.
  • synonyms: bench mark

Originally a' Benchmark' was a surveyor's mark indicating a specific height above sea level. But it has come to have a much broader meaning in the world of investing. A stock market benchmark, for example, is an index or average whose movement is considered a general indicator of the direction of the overall market, against which investors and financial professionals often gauge their market expectations and judge the performance of individual stocks or market sectors. For example, the Standard & Poor's 500-stock Index (S&P 500) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are the most widely followed benchmarks, or indicators, of the US market. There are also benchmarks for international markets, and for other types of investments such as bonds, mutual funds, and commodities. In a somewhat different way, the changing yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond is also considered a benchmark of investor attitudes. For example, a lower yield is an indication that investors are putting money into bonds, driving up the price, possibly because they expect stock prices to drop.