KEY POINTS:
Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers posted a 12 per cent fall in first-half profit on lower coal production and prices.
The group, whose operations include hardware retailing and insurance, reported a net profit of A$392 million ($442 million) for the six months to December.
The company's shares gained just 2 per cent in calendar 2006, lagging the broader market's 19 per cent rise.
The stock bottomed in July but has recovered on takeover speculation.
