NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jan 20, 2012) - With the global financial markets in disarray, dividend stocks have become one of the top destinations for investors over the last year. Rick Helm, portfolio manager of the Cohen and Steers Dividend Value fund, recently told USA Today that some investors believe it's more likely that companies will raise dividends than that economic growth will boost stock prices. Five Star Equities examines investing opportunities in the Foreign Banking Industry and provides equity research on HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE: [ HBC ]) (LSE: HSBA) and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (NYSE: [ RBS ]) (LSE: RBS). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

[ www.fivestarequities.com/HBC ]

[ www.fivestarequities.com/RBS ]

The outlook for the UK economy is gloomy. The Nationwide Building Society recently announced that the U.K. consumer confidence fell in December to close to a record low as rising unemployment and the euro crisis sapped Britons' expectations for the economic recovery.

It was an "extremely tough year" with worsening job prospects "compounded by events in Europe," Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, said in a statement. "With the U.K. recovery unlikely to gain much forward momentum in 2012 we are unlikely to see confidence surge in the near term."

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Foreign Banking Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at [ www.fivestarequities.com ] and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

The struggling economy is taking its toll on the UK Banking sector, with many financial firms trading near 52-week lows. With the banks struggling, several have been forced to cut costs. Earlier this month, Royal Bank of Scotland unveiled a broad-ranging restructure to prune back large parts of its investment banking operation, which will see the unit shed a further 3,500 jobs over a three-year period.

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