** Shares of Australia's Ansell ANN.AX rise as much as 5.1% to A$32.88, hitting their biggest intraday pct gain in more than three months
** The personal protection equipment maker posts H1FY26 group sales of $1,026.6 million, up 0.7% from last year's levels
** Co posts H1FY26 profit attributable of $88.8 million, up 61.5% pcp
** Declares interim dividend of 26.6 cents per share, up from 22.2 cents per share last year
** Co expects organic constant currency sales growth and earnings momentum to be sustained in H2FY26, cites higher sales, improved manufacturing and supply chain productivity among others
** Despite moves, stock down 7.3% YTD
(Reporting by Aamir Sheik Khalid in Bengaluru)
((Aamir.SheikKhalid@thomsonreuters.com))