Rio Tinto today declared a record dividend worth $16.8 billion (£12bn) as City investors get a slice of 2021's commodity price boom.
Barclays shareholders have also been promised £2.5 billion of capital returns after the banking giant posted strong results today.
The pay-outs came during a quieter session for financial markets, with Brent crude holding firm at $97 a barrel in the wake of this week’s escalation of Ukraine tensions.