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Savings & Retirement

Where to Find Investment Income Now That Bank Dividends Are Drying Up

As payouts are slashed, retirees are taking bigger risks in the search for better returns.

Random little white piggy banks — Photographer: PM Images/Digital Vision

By

Jackie Edwards,

Alfred Liu, and

Abhishek Vishnoi

October 14, 2020, 6:09 PM UTC

The worst year for stock dividends in over a decade is upending formerly rock-solid retirement plans all across Asia.

Nearly a third (28%) of Asia Pacific companies — including marquee names like HSBC Holdings Plc, Westpac Banking Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. — have scrapped or reduced dividends this year as the coronavirus pandemic forced them to conserve cash. That’s considerably greater than the 13% in the U.S. though still behind the 50% in Europe, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.