Australia's ASX H1 profit up 35% on strong trading

SYDNEY, Feb 14 (Reuters) - ASX Ltd (ASX.AX: Quote, Profile, Research), the operator of the Australian stock exchange, reported a 34.5 percent rise in first-half profit on Thursday, boosted by strong volume growth after the stock market hit successive records.

ASX reported net profit of A$187.4 million ($167.3 million) in the six months ended December up from A$139.3 million reported a year ago.

Nine analysts surveyed by Reuters on average forecast net profit of A$183.7 million, with estimates ranging from A$174.1-A$193.1 million.

Australian shares set consecutive records last year, drawing more investors to the stock market. But the global credit crisis has hurt confidence and dimmed the outlook for stock markets, initial public offerings and other forms of capital raising. ($1=A$1.11) (Reporting by Denny Thomas;)