SYDNEY, May 6 (Reuters) - Australia's top investment bank Macquarie Group MQG.AX on Friday posted a 29 percent jump in annual profit to a record, helped by growth in its annuity-style businesses such as wealth management, and lifted final dividends by 21 percent.
Net profit rose to A$2.06 billion ($1.54 billion) from A$1.6 billion a year ago, narrowly beating analysts' estimate of A$2.04 billion. It unveiled a final dividend of A$4 per share, its best ever.
Macquarie's stellar results come at a time of dire earnings from Australia's major banks that this week posted slower earnings growth and steady or lower dividends. ($1 = 1.3398 Australian dollars)