For the first time in three years, the headline rate of UK dividends has slipped back. According to the latest quarterly dividend monitor from Link Asset Services, UK headline dividends fell by 2.1% in the second quarter. The report shows headline dividends fell by a total of £32.6bn year-on-year, mainly the result of fewer special dividends being paid. Link reported that special dividends paid by UK companies were reported at £1.9bn during the second quarter. This is still seen as ‘healthy’ but is lower than the above-average £3.2bn of special dividends paid to investors in the same period last year.