** Shares of ANZ Group Holdings Ltd fall as much as 2.7% to A$27.990, on track for their biggest intraday drop since April 16, if current trend holds
** Australia's no. 4 lender posts a 7% decline in half-year cash profit to A$3.55 bln ($2.35 bln), slightly above a Visible Alpha consensus estimate, compiled by UBS, of A$3.54 bln
** ANZ declares A$2 bln share buyback and an interim dividend of 83 Australian cents apiece
** ANZ, however, warns that "domestic and international environments are expected to remain challenging across the remainder of the year"
** Overall, a slightly disappointing result given elevated expectations following peer results, with the in line cash profit largely driven by materially lower credit impairment charge - Jarden analysts
** Stock has risen 11% this year, as of last close
(Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru)
((Poonam.Behura@thomsonreuters.com;))
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