Stock investors won record dividends but growth is slowing

Companies handed out a record $1.43tr (£1.10tr) in dividends but the portion of profits that companies pay to their shareholders is beginning to slow, according to a report by the asset manager Janus Henderson.

Firms in the US paid out 6.8% more than last year, reaching a record $490.8bn (£376.30tr).

The United Kingdom lagged behind. The amount that shareholders received after profits in Britain slowed by 2.9% to $15.8bn (£12.11bn).

“With the exception of a few specific sectors, the pace of earnings growth slowed across the world in 2019 as the global economy lost some momentum,” said Ben Lofthouse, co-Manager of global equity income at Janus Henderson.