News: OSH Australia's Oil Search annual profit up 13 pct on higher oil, gas prices

Feb 19 (Reuters) - Australia's Oil Search Ltd (OSH) on Tuesday posted a 13 percent rise in annual profit, boosted by higher prices for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil, which offset a loss of output after an earthquake in Papua New Guinea (PNG) early in 2018.

The PNG-focused company said net profit for the year ended Dec. 31 rose to $341.2 million from $302.1 million a year earlier. The result was below analysts' forecasts around $360.83 million, according to Refinitiv data.

Oil Search declared a full-year dividend of 8.5 cents per share, down from 9.5 cents in 2017.