Market Overview - The main U.S. equity indexes experienced modest gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 1.1% to 45,010, the S&P 500 rising by 0.8% to 6,358, and the Nasdaq Composite up by 0.6% to 21,020 [7][8] - The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is set for July 29-30, during which the latest policy statement will be released [6] Housing Market - The National Association of Realtors reported a decline in housing sales as home prices reached record highs in June, indicating affordability challenges [5] - President Trump criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell for the slow housing market, attributing it to the refusal to lower interest rates [2] Treasury Yields - The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note increased to 4.388% from 4.336%, while the 2-year note rose to 3.886% from 3.831% [6][7] - The 30-year yield approached the significant 5% level, rising to 4.944% from 4.903% [7] Company Highlights - GE Vernova (GEV) stock surged by 14.6% after reporting second-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations and raising its full-year guidance [10] - Analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith raised the 12-month target price for GEV from $427 to $565, despite previous concerns about valuation [10] - Among analysts tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence, 24 rate GEV a Buy, 8 a Hold, and 1 a Sell, with an average 12-month target price of $511.75 [11] Automotive Sector - Japanese automakers Honda Motor (HMC) and Toyota Motor (TM) saw significant gains of 13.1% and 13.7%, respectively, following a tariff deal announced by President Trump [12] - Domestic automakers also benefited, with GM stating it would not raise prices to offset tariff impacts [13] Nuclear Energy Investment - Oklo (OKLO) stock rose by 9.3% after announcing a partnership with Vertiv Holdings (VRT) to develop power and cooling systems for AI data centers [14] - Oklo is focused on developing advanced fission power plants to provide clean energy at scale [15]

Core Viewpoint - Dividends are attractive for investors as they provide passive income and reflect a company's commitment to rewarding shareholders through consistent payout increases [1][13] Company Summaries Apple (AAPL) - Apple reported record Services revenue and record EPS of $1.65 for its March quarter, with total sales growing 5% year-over-year [3] - The company announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend payout and a $100 billion share repurchase program, demonstrating strong cash generation capabilities [4] - Apple generated $20.8 billion in free cash flow during the latest period, benefiting from the recent de-escalation of trade tensions in China, which positively impacted its stock price, increasing nearly 20% since the announcement [6][7] Vistra (VST) - Vistra operates a diverse power generation fleet and has seen its shares rise nearly 70% over the past year, driven by demand from AI infrastructure development [8] - The company announced a 3% increase in its quarterly dividend, maintaining a 13% five-year annualized dividend growth rate and a sustainable payout ratio of 12% of earnings [10] - Vistra reaffirmed its current year guidance, providing reassurance to investors amid a challenging earnings cycle [12]