** Shares of Sanford Ltd SAN.NZ rise 4.8% to NZ$5.19, their highest since December 14, 2021

** Seafood company reports HY net profit after tax of NZ$34 million ($20.06 million), up 110% from last year

** Company declares interim dividend of 5 New Zealand cents per share, same as last year

** Stock registers biggest intraday percentage gain since March 21 this year

** About 65,367 shares change hands, 4.7 times the 30-day average of 13,891

** Stock up 21.9% YTD, including moves in current session

($1 = 1.6952 New Zealand dollars)

(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru)

((JasmeenAraIslam.Shaikh@thomsonreuters.com;))