What are the options for income-hungry investors?

After a turbocharged first few months of the year, recent market setbacks have given investors pause for thought. Talk of a ‘tapering off' of US quantitative easing measures, falling Chinese growth numbers, uncertainty about Japan's inflation plans and a stagnant eurozone have all prompted short-term bouts of profit taking from investors. In fact, this year's rally has been an inherently cautious one. Recognising that the improved economic outlook is mostly down to the cheap central bank money still flooding into the system, investors have opted for the comfort of developed market defens...