(Adds share performance, other metrics) Aug 15 (Reuters) -...

(Adds share performance, other metrics)

Aug 15 (Reuters) - Australia's QBE Insurance Group (QBE) said on Thursday its first-half cash profit rose 35%, helped by lower claims losses and robust investment return.

The country's third-largest listed insurer's cash profit for the six months ended June 30 rose to A$520 million ($351.05 million) from A$385 million a year ago.

That sent the company's shares as high as 3% to A$12.44 in early trade, while the broader market (xjo) was nearly 2% lower.

QBE is in recovery mode after a weak spell, having posted a record annual loss in 2017 as hurricanes swept the Atlantic and earthquakes rattled Mexico.

It had ended fiscal 2018 with a better than expected profit.

The insurer's combined operating ratio (COR) - claims payouts against premium income - came in at 95.2%, slightly better than the mid-point of its projected range of 94.5%-96.5% for fiscal 2019.

QBE reaffirmed its full-year forecast on Thursday and declared an interim dividend of 25 Australian cents a share, higher than the 22 cents interim payout of last year. ($1 = 1.4813 Australian dollars)