VODAFONE Group, in which many former eircom investors hold shares, may raise its dividend by 20%, easing investor concern that chief executive Arun Sarin’s expansion strategy may hurt shareholder returns.

Vodafone Group PLC chief executive officer Arun Sarin said Vivendi Universal SA's SFR Cegetel unit will ond day be a part of Vodafone.

Investors retreated modestly on Wall Street today, collecting profits after a six-day advance in the Dow Jones industrials.