(Adds share moves)
** Shares of Australia's no.3 lender Westpac rise as much as 1.6% to A$27.55, their highest level since March 8
** Stock on track for a fourth consecutive session of gains, if current trend holds
** Australia's No. 3 lender on Monday said it boosted its share buyback programme by A$1 bln ($662.30 mln) and declared a special dividend, even as its first-half profit dropped 16%
** Citi says the buyback and special dividend trend will continue; forecasts two further special dividends of 15 AU cents apiece as well as A$1.0 bln-A$1.5 bln of further buybacks over 2H24 and 1H25 period
** Citi notes Westpac's core net interest margin, excluding the volatile items, has remained stable for six months and ahead of its peers
** Stock has risen 18.43% this year, as of last close
($1 = 1.5099 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Poonam Behura in Bengaluru)
((Poonam.Behura@thomsonreuters.com;))
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