PAYOUTS ON THE CARDS

Greetings chain Card Factory yesterday announced another shareholder reward, despite a near 14% plunge in profits.

The firm said it had been hit by the wider high street slowdown, as sales in stores open at least a year dipped 0.2% in the six months to the end of July. Underlying profits fell 13.9% to £22.7million.

But the company said it was still awash with cash, prompting a 5p a share special dividend, on top of a 2.9p interim dividend.

It means nearly £300m has been returned to shareholders since it floated on the stock market in May 2014.

Boss Karen Hubbard said: “We remain positive about the growth prospects for the business over the medium term.”