Feb 12 (Reuters) - Insurance Australia Group IAG.AX posted a drop of more than 43% in first-half profit on Wednesday, hurt by rising claims from bushfires and hailstorms across the country.
Net profit was A$283 million ($189.98 million) in the six months ended Dec. 31, compared with A$500 million a year earlier.
Australia's biggest general insurer reported a half-year insurance margin, a key profitability metric, of 13.5% for the period.($1 = 1.4896 Australian dollars)