TalkTalk shares plummet after investor payouts slashed

Shares in TalkTalk have plummeted after the broadband provider slashed investor payouts and warned over earnings as it embarks on an investment drive to attract more customers.

The group's stock sunk by as much as 17% after it cut this year's final dividend from 10.58p to 5p and flagged that full-year earnings in 2017-18 would come in lower, as it spends more money on marketing.