Abstract: An aqueous dispersion comprising a dispersed polymer is disclosed, obtained by combining (i) the dispersed polymer (ii) a hydrated metal salt of a strong acid, and (iii) a polymeric surfactant comprising a hydrophobic component containing an aryl radical containing at least 7 carbon atoms and a hydrophilic block component containing at least six repeat units derived from water-soluble monomers, or a multifunctional block copolymeric surfactant derived from the sequential addition of propylene oxide or higher alkylene oxide units and subsequently ethylene oxide units to a polyamine moiety. It has been found that the addition of such polymeric surfactants in accordance with the invention can stabilize an aqueous polymeric dispersion or latex even when hydrated metal salts of strong acids, such as Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.18H.sub.2 O, AlCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2 O, Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3.9H.sub.2 O, Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2 O etc., are present.