** Shares of APA Group APA.AX rise as much as 7.1% to A$7.625, their highest level since mid-October 2024

** Stock among top gainers on ASX 200 benchmark .AXJO

** APA rises for the third straight day

** Macquarie raises price target for the energy infrastructure business to A$8.14 from A$8.02 and maintains an "Outperform" rating

** Co posted 9.1% higher 1H25 underlying EBITDA at A$1,015 million ($644.93 million) and reaffirmed FY25 forecast of A$1,960 million – A$2,020 mln

** Macquarie sees APA will be at the upper end of the provided forecast, as a change in accounting to economically hedge Wallumbilla Gladstone Pipeline should deliver material EBITDA uplift for 2H25-FY28

** About 5.1 million shares change hands, vs the 30-day average of 4.1 million

($1 = 1.5738 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sneha Kumar in Bengaluru)

((Sneha.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com;))