Investors enjoy $22b in payouts

BILLIONS of dollars in dividends are about to be paid to investors, but will they be returned to a share market currently near two year lows?

AROUND $22 billion will flow to shareholders this spring in a boost for the economy and the share market.

DESPITE challenging economic conditions, 91 per cent of the top 200 listed companies to report annual results in August decided to pay dividends to shareholders, well above the long term average, according to research from CommSec.