Aug 9 (Reuters) - REA Group ( RPGRF ), largely owned by

News Corp ( NWSA ), on Friday posted a rise in annual earnings

and hiked its dividend reflecting price increases and a lift in

national listings in Australia.

The company, which operates residential and commercial

property websites said net profit after tax from core operations

rose 24% to A$460.5 million ($303.38 million) from A$372.2

million reported a year ago.

The firm declared a final dividend of A$1.02 per share, up

from 83 Australian cents apiece it declared a year ago.

($1 = 1.5179 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru)