Although Apple's mind-boggling earnings failed to spark much of a rally this morning, investors had a brand-new reason to rejoice in the afternoon. The Federal Reserve swooped in with the announcement that interest rates will remain low through 2014, adding a dose of clarity to the market.
Despite a strong rebound from the Dow Jones Industrial Average
Verizon
Hewlett-Packard
Finally, the pharmaceutical company Merck
With two more trading days left, the Dow is poised to close higher for the fourth straight week. The Fed's announcement only increased the likelihood that the status quo will continue, which might not be such a bad thing. While the move won't provide any relief for bond yields, investors can find other income-generating strategies. For a few ideas on dividend stocks that provide a steady income stream, take a look at 10 dividend stocks that our analysts identified recently. This free report could propel your portfolio throughout 2012.