Caution set the tone on the markets this week. The S&P 500 extended its decline for a third straight session yesterday as two major factors continue to weigh on sentiment.
The first is the change in expectations around a . Early last week, Investing.com’s rate barometer showed a nearly 70% chance of easing in December. By the end of the week, that figure had fallen below 50% and is now near 40%.
This means traders no longer view a decline in December as the central scenario. The market is now leaning more towards a move in January. That would give the Fed more time to review economic data that was delayed during the shutdown, a view reinforced by several recent remarks from FOMC members.
The other factor weighing on the market is the anticipation around Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) quarterly results, which will arrive tomorrow evening. As the world’s largest company and a key indicator of the AI industry, Nvidia influences the broader market. Any weakness in its numbers or guidance could ripple through shares, prompting investors to remain cautious.
In a worst-case scenario, in which Nvidia underperforms and the Fed skips a rate cut on Dec. 10, the latter part of the year could become particularly difficult for U.S. stocks.
In this environment, adding more stability to portfolios becomes a wise approach, and high-quality dividend paying companies are one of the most effective ways to do this when chosen carefully.
Dividend-paying stocks generate steady income even when stock prices move sideways, and they come from companies that already have strong profits. They also tend to attract a more stable group of investors, giving them greater resilience in times of weakness. The problem is that they typically lag behind during strong bursts of market optimism.
7 Reliable S&P 500 Dividend Picks for Volatile Times
Using Investing.com’s screener, we searched for the highest dividend stocks in the S&P 500, guided by the following criteria:
S&P500 stocks Dividend yield in 5% excess. Dividend payments for more than 10 years
Croissant dividends over 3 and 5 years
Upside down…..
