HSBC may have a dividend yield of 4.2%, but is it a quality dividend stock?

It is hard to write any commentary this month about anything, never mind a financial market, without acknowledging the horrendous events that have happened and are continuing in and around Israel and Gaza.

The FTSE 250 is down almost 30% since 2021, leaving the index and many of its constituents with attractive yields.

August was the first down month for the S&P 500 Index since February. Given that the market has managed a gain every month since and even including March, the month that Silicon Valley Bank collapsed at warp speed, it was perhaps due a well-earned summer break to rest up before a further push higher as the days shorten.