** Shares of Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX rise as much as 9.1% to A$5.66, last up 7.9%

** Shares of Australia's leading independent coal miner are set for their biggest intraday pct gain since October 18, 2023

** Company posts half-year underlying net profit after tax of A$328 million ($207.79 million), higher than the Visible Alpha consensus of A$219 million

** Co has also declared an interim dividend of 9 Australian cents per share

($1 = 1.5785 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))