** Shares of WAM Leaders WLE.AX rise as much as 1.8% to A$1.39, their highest level since November 3

** Investment firm posts HY operating profit after tax of A$99.9 million ($70.79 million), up 157.2% pcp

** Co declares interim dividend of 4.8 Australian cents per share

** Stock up 5.7% YTD

($1 = 1.4112 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Aamir Sheik Khalid in Bengaluru)

((Aamir.SheikKhalid@thomsonreuters.com))