SYDNEY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Macquarie Group Ltd MQG.AX , Australia's top investment bank, on Friday posted a record first half net profit that jumped 58 percent, helped by higher fee income and better financial market activity.
A falling Australian dollar also benefited Macquarie, which generates more than 70 percent of its income overseas.
Net profit rose to A$1.07 billion ($757.03 million) for the first six months to September compared with A$678 million a year ago and in line with its guidance earlier this month.
Macquarie also said it would issue new shares at A$78.4 each, a 6.7 percent discount to Thursday's closing price. Earlier this month, it raised A$400 million from institutional investors to help it fund the acquisition of ANZ Banking group's ANZ.AX vehicle finance portfolio. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N1280IC ($1 = 1.4134 Australian dollars)