Fund Managers Demanding Higher Dividends

Fund managers have a message for the boards of public companies, and it's straight out of Jerry Maguire: Show me the money!

More than half the world's professional money managers are now pushing public companies to ramp up their dividend payouts, according to a new survey from Merrill Lynch(MER Quote). They even want those companies to borrow the cash, if necessary, to do it.

By the numbers: 53% surveyed in January want companies to give back more cash to shareholders, up sharply from just 44% a month ago. Those who would rather see companies invest that cash in growing their businesses dropped by the same amount. ...