The ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) was eventful this week. Here are four big stories you may have missed that affected the ASX 200 index:
Special dividends continue
The latest business to announce a special dividend is Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN). The insurance giant and regional bank announced that after selling its Australian Life business to TAL Dai-ichi Life the Suncorp board has decided to pay a special dividend of 8 cents per share.
Suncorp expects to return around $600 million of capital to shareholders, with the special dividend being around $100 million of the net proceeds.
Another premier result
Leading retailer business Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) announced its half-year result this week.
Another year of revenue growth and profit growth was impressive, although Smiggle suffered a temporary setback due to Brexit. Its long-term growth plans remain and its investments in Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) and Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) are going in the right direction.
Two decades of dividend growth
Investment conglomerate Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) announced another impressive report to investors this week with strong growth from several of its key holdings.
What I think was most important from the result was that Soul Patts announced yet another increase to the dividend, which is great income security for investors. It now has a grossed-up dividend yield of 2.8%.
A wise capital raising?
One business causing debate this week has been WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC). It raised $300 million from institutional investors this week to pursue its growth and acquisition strategy.
Whether the acquisition element of WiseTech's growth plan is a clever geographical expansion strategy or an expensive roll-up mistake remains to be seen. Either way, the logistics software company has its backers and the share price keeps going up.
