How did the top five income stocks fare in crucial week?

This week saw a round of updates from some of the UK's largest dividend payers, including BP, Shell, Glaxo and British American Tobacco. But is it time for investors to be selling the big names?

The outlook for all the stocks is mixed, with some managers cautious on BP and tobacco giant British American Tobacco (BATs) but others comfortable with what they see as core holdings. BP: The results were undoubtedly positive for the recovering oil major but investors are divided over the outlook from here. Matt Hudson, manager of the top performing £48.8m Cazenove UK Equity Income fund, has been adding to his position in the group, and now favours BP over Shell. "I am taking a more aggressive view now. On a long term view BP is the most attractive investment to have among UK i...