Gold Fields profit jumps, boosts dividend amid price rally

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Gold Fields GFIJ.J said profit last year jumped 42%, as it reaps a windfall from a rally in gold prices even though its gold output fell 10%.

The Johannesburg-gold miner raised its dividend 34% to 10 rand per share, after its profit jumped to about $1.2 billion last year from $837 million the prior year. Gold Fields joins peers including AngloGold and Barrick in boosting returns to investors as bullion prices hit record highs. Gold Fields said its output dropped 10% to about 2 million ounces.