** Shares of Australian mining giant BHP Group BHP.AX fall 1.6% to A$54.775, hitting their lowest level since February 24

** Co's stock tradesex-dividend; to pay an interim dividend of 73 US cents per share

** Broader mining index .AXMM last down 1%

** Shares up 20.4% YTD

(Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)

((Shruti.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))