ArcelorMittal upbeat about 2018, resumes dividend payment

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal, the world's largest producer of steel, on Wednesday reported a core profit for 2017 slightly above analyst expectations, resumed dividend payments and said the market environment was positive.

Core profit (EBITDA) rose by more than a third in 2017 to $8.4 billion, just above the $8.315 billion expected in a company-compiled consensus.

The company, which had skipped a dividend for its 2015 and 2016 financial years, said it would pay out $0.10 for 2017. Analysts had on average expected $0.30.

(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek)