Dividends lift financial stocks as funds managers face a tougher test

• Benjamin Hornigold rose 9.62% after declaring a fully franked special dividend of 6.2 cents per share.
• Regal Partners fell 8.04% despite recording its 12th straight quarter of net inflows.
• Bank of Queensland gained 7.85% after reporting a statutory profit rebound, a special dividend and a buy-back.
• Australian Finance Group climbed 6.77% as its loan book grew and new investments were expected to add $13 million to FY27 EBITDA.