Aug 16 (Reuters) - QBE Insurance Group Ltd QBE.AX :
* FIRST HALF COMBINED OPERATING RATIO OF 95.8%
* REVISED FULL YEAR 2018 COMBINED OPERATING RATIO 95.0% - 97.0%
* BOARD REMAINS COMMITTED TO THREE-YEAR SHARE BUYBACK OF UP TO A$1BN INCLUDING NO MORE THAN A$333M IN ANY ONE CALENDAR YEAR
* TOTAL SHAREHOLDER PAYOUT FOR 2018 HALF YEAR IS A$397M, UP 31% FROM A$302M IN PRIOR PERIOD