4 investment stories you missed in the ASX200 this week

Here are 4 investment stories you may have missed from the ASX200 (ASX:XJO) this week.

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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.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Premier Investments Limited and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of WiseTech Global. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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