DIVIDEND growth among UK listed companies has grown by its slowest rate in more than three years, a report has found.

The latest UK Dividend Monitor from Capita Asset Services, published today, shows dividend payments in the second quarter of the year increased by 1.2 per cent to £25.8 billion. Growth was impeded by slower corporate earnings growth, including falling payments from the biggest FTSE-100 companies and the strength of sterling.

Capita said the second quarter showing was the smallest increase in a quarterly total since 2010, barring an unusual first quarter in 2013. It has cut its forecast for 2014 by £900 million to £98.5 billion but said 2015 is likely to pick up.