Reason to celebrate! Stocks are about to get a $400 billion dividend boost

Stocks in Hong Kong and emerging markets show particularly strong returns in April

Here’s a fresh reason to celebrate the end of a lousy quarter in global equities: the new one kicks off with the potential adrenaline boost of as much as $400 billion in dividends.

“We think it is no coincidence that spring is also a seasonally strong period for equities," Morgan Stanley strategists including Andrew Sheets wrote in a note to clients Wednesday. Up to $400 billion is set to be paid into investor accounts between March and May, they calculated. “April in particular tends to be a strong month for global equity returns.”

Stocks in Hong Kong and emerging markets show particularly