) can beat expectations in its very first public report, scheduled for July 26. Guidance may be the key for the group, especially from companies like IBM that touch nearly every sector of technology. Gartner is still anticipating a 3% increase in global tech spending this year, although it acknowledges that challenges including the euro zone crisis, a Chinese economic slowdown, and a weaker U.S. recovery warrant continued spending caution. CEO expectations for sales, hiring and capital spending over the next six months all softened in the second quarter, according to the latest Business Roundtable Economic Outlook Survey. Utilities may offer predictability Yes, they can be boring investments. But utilities have been among the strongest stock groups this year. Many investors are using them as yield alternatives right now – a place to hide out until there is more certainty with riskier stock investments. Many are paying double the yields of a U.S. Treasury right now. And some are paying yields near 6%, including Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: