** Shares of Australia's New Hope Corporation NHC.AX gain 8.7% to A$4.02; set for strongest trading session since June 8, 2023
** The coal miner reports HY earnings of A$340.3 mln ($217.11 mln), higher than A$251.7 mln reported a year ago and market estimates of A$302.2 mln
** Lifts interim dividend to 19 Australian cents/share, from 17 Australian cents apiece last year
** Announces share buyback program of A$100 mln
** Total coal sales for six months rises 44% to 5.4 mln metric tons, driven primarily by a significant increase in output at the New Acland mine in Queensland
** Stock down 20.6% YTD
($1 = 1.5674 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru)
((Rishav.Chatterjee@thomsonreuters.com))