** Shares of MFF Capital Investments MFF.AX fall as much as 2.3% to A$4.7, their biggest intraday pct drop since Jan. 21

** Co posts first-half net profit after income tax expense of A$209.7 million ($149.56 million), a 45% drop on pcp

** About 588,635 shares change hands, 2.6x the 30-day average

** YTD, shares down 5.8%

($1 = 1.4021 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))