The FTSE 100 is hovering around 5,700 today, 14 points down on yesterday's close, and really not going anywhere much. We are still in the early days of interim reporting season, mind, so we should see some more influence from company results over the next few weeks.
But an aggregate indicator of share prices doesn't tell us anything about the dividends that companies are paying, and in today's economy, the lion's share of many a portfolio's profits comes from such payouts. Here are three companies from the various FTSE indices that have lifted their dividends this week.
IG Group
IG Group Holdings
The derivatives trading firm, which provides contracts for difference and spread betting, showed its commitment to decent payouts, saying: "We are a highly cash generative business and this allows for both investment in technology and enables us to maintain a high level of dividend payout." This year's dividend represents 60% of diluted earnings per share.
Howden
It was a good week for Howden Joinery Group
For the full year, the City is estimating a dividend of around 1.1 pence per share. That's still only a yield of less than 1% based on today's 134 pence share price, but it's moving in the right direction.
Beazley
Speciality insurer Beazley Group
There's a full year payout of around 8 pence forecast, which would provide a 5% yield on the current 153p share price.
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