Sector: General Financial

RPS Group have announced a proposed final dividend of 2.00p (FY 2018: 5.08p) providing full year dividend of 4.42p (FY 2018: 9.88p). This follows the rebasing of the dividend announced at H1 2019 and reflects the stated new, sustainable dividend policy of paying out 40% of adjusted earnings.

The HSBC Board has announced that the Group's capital strength, has given the Board the confidence to approve an unchanged dividend of $0.51 for 2019.

Final proposed dividend up 19% at 2.335 cents per share ($12.0 million) bringing the full-year total dividend to $22.2 million (2018: $20.0 million)

The BHP Board has determined to pay an additional amount of 14 US cents per share or US$0.7 billion, taking the interim dividend to 65 US cents per share or US$3.3 billion. This is the second highest ordinary dividend announced and is equivalent to a 63 per cent payout ratio (31 December 2018: 75 per cent).

The Ashmore plc Board intends to pay a progressive ordinary dividend over time, taking into consideration factors such as the prospects for the Group's earnings, demands on the Group's financial resources, and the markets in which the Group operates.

The Beazley board announces a second interim dividend of 8.2p per ordinary share, in line with their strategy of delivering 5-10% dividend growth. Together with the first interim dividend of 4.1p this takes the total dividends declared for 2019 to 12.3p per ordinary share (2018: first interim dividend of 3.9p plus a second interim dividend of 7.8p, totalling 11.7p).

Target Healthcare announce a second interim dividend of 1.67 pence per share declared for the year ending 30 June 2020, representing an increase of 1.5% on the 2019 quarterly dividends. On an annualised basis, this reflects a payment of 6.68 pence per share and a dividend yield of 5.5% based on the closing share price of 122.5 pence on 5 February 2020.

Redrow have declared an interim dividend of 10.5p, up 5% on the previous year. A dividend of £72m was paid in the six months to 31 December 2019 (six months to 31 December 2018: £70m).

Barratt Developments have a defined dividend policy with the Group paying an ordinary dividend cover of 2.5 times. They have previously announced that when market conditions allow, ordinary dividends will be supplemented with special returns. As previously announced the Board intends to pay a special return of £175m in November 2020. Demonstrating the Board's confidence in the business going forward, it now proposes to pay a further special return of £175m in November 2021.

The Smurfit Kappa Board is recommending a final dividend of 80.9 cent per share, a 12% increase year-on-year. It is proposed to pay the final dividend on 15 May 2020 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 17 April 2020.