Index roundup

Standard & Poor’s says indicated dividend payments for the S&P 500 have risen to $4.4 billion in the year to date, the largest rise since Q4 2007. Index constituents paid out $196 billion in 2009, compared to $248 billion in 2008. Payments for Q1 this year are expected to fall by 8%. Seventy-five companies in the S&P 500 have raised dividend rates in 2010, while only two have cut them.

Commodity markets are set to benefit from the strength of emerging markets economies and the stimulus packages