Measures all common stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange and four subgroup indexes: industrial, transportation, utility and finance. The index tracks the change in the market value of NYSE common stocks, and is adjusted to eliminate the effects of new listings and delistings. The market value of each stock is calculated by multiplying its price per share by the number of shares listed.
Taobiz explains NYSE Composite Index
The NYSE composite is a fairly good indicator of general market strength.