SYDNEY, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Australia's QBE Insurance Group QBE.AX said on Thursday that first-half net profit rose 30 percent, as higher earnings from Australia, New Zealand and North America offset a higher payout ratio in emerging markets.
Net profit for the six months to June 30 was A$345 million ($273.4 million), compared with A$265 million a year ago and higher than a mean forecast of A$319 million, according to two analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company announced an interim dividend of 22 Australian cents per share, higher than the 21-cent interim dividend it paid a year ago.
($1 = 1.2618 Australian dollars)