Nov 7 (Reuters) - Australia's Macquarie Group MQG.AX posted a 3% rise in first-half profit on Friday, benefiting from strong performance in its asset management and banking and financial services.

The country's top investment bank said net profit attributable was A$1.66 billion ($1.08 billion) for the six months ended September 30, up from A$1.61 billion a year earlier, below a Visible Alpha consensus of A$1.86 billion.

($1 = 1.5389 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru; editing by Tasim Zahid)

((John.Biju@thomsonreuters.com;))