BHP's half year profit jumps 25 percent; misses forecasts

(Reuters) - The world's biggest miner BHP said on Tuesday its underlying half-year profit rose 25 percent, helped by robust commodity prices.

Underlying profit for the half year ended Dec. 31 rose to $4.05 billion from $3.24 billion a year ago. That missed a forecast of $4.30 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The miner declared an interim dividend of $0.55 per share, up from $0.40 a share last year.

(Reporting by Rushil Dutta in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Pullin)