US stocks: High dividend-paying stocks attractive again, bonds at 14-month low

NEW YORK: Investors once again are snapping up high dividend-paying US stocks as Treasury yields fall, which should keep utilities and telecoms stocks near the top of the buying list for the near future.

The S&P 500 utility sector, whose dividend yield at 3.9% is more than 100 basis points above the 10-year Treasury yield, led the S&P 500’s advance on Friday after concern about the launch of US air strikes on Iraq drove the benchmark bond yield to 14-month lows.