** Shares of bourse operator ASX Ltd ASX.AX fall as much as 2.83% to A$53.81

** ASX says FY26 total expenses expected to rise 20% to 23%, from prior range of 14% to19%

** Says HY expenses up 20% to A$264.3 million ($188.50 million), driven by the regulatory probe, transformation spending and higher costs from ageing assets and intangible write-offs

** Co said on Tuesday that its Managing Director and Chief Executive Helen Lofthouse will step down in May

** Stock has fallen over 1.6% in value in the last two sessions, including the day's move

** Stock up 6.34% this year, including session's move, vs a 0.6% increase in the benchmark index .AXJO

($1 = 1.4021 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru)

((Roushni.nair@thomsonreuters.com))