Lend Lease Group H1 Profit Surges

Lend Lease Group LLESY reported a 25% rise in its profit in the six months through December. Lend Lease's net profit for the first half climbed to 315.6 million Australian dollars (US$247.6 million), compared to A$251.6 million, in the year-ago period. Its revenue declined 9.4% to A$5.9 billion from A$6.51 billion. Lend Lease also announced its plans to pay an interim dividend of 27 Australian cents a stapled security, versus 22 cents a year ago.