dividends

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UK dividends rose 18.4% in Q2 2012 to reach a record high of £22.6bn, fuelled by special dividends and strong underlying growth, according to the latest Capita Dividend Monitor.

The Foreign & Colonial investment trust is to move to quarterly dividend payments and raise its total dividend for 2012 by 20%, as part of an overhaul of its distribution policy.

MAM Funds is hoping to as much as double the assets in Gervais Williams' Diverse Income trust through a C-share issue.

The sheer size of US corporate cash piles could provide a boost to the wider economy this year, according to Capital Economics.

RBS could start paying dividends to preference shareholders again later this year, which could lead to a £400m capital raising.

As Apple announces it will pay a dividend for the first time since 1995, analysts and investors give their views on the landmark move by the tech giant.

A third of UK Equity Income funds slashed distributions to investors in 2011, despite a bumper year for UK-listed companies which saw dividend payouts hit an all-time high of £67.8bn.

Stuart Rhodes, manager of the £1.7bn M&G Global Dividend fund, on five of his favourite stocks.

Troy Asset Management's Francis Brooke has cautioned against overconfidence on BP's anticipated announcement of a dividend increase when it reports its Q4 results tomorrow morning.