Barrick profit lifted by surging bullion price
Chairman and founder of Barrick Gold Peter Munk"s trademark hat sits on the table as he speaks at the Barrick Gold Annual General Meeting in Toronto, April 29, 2009. Reuters

Barrick Gold (ABX.TO: Quote), the world's top gold miner, reported a 45 percent increase in its quarterly profit on Thursday, driven by a sharp increase in bullion prices

Toronto, Ontario-based Barrick said its third-quarter net income rose to $1.37 billion, or $1.36 a share, from a year-earlier profit of $942 million, or 94 cents.

Excluding one-time items, profit rose to $1.39 billion or $1.39 a share, from $912 million or 93 cents.

Barrick on Wednesday announced that its board authorized a 25 percent increase in its quarterly dividend.

($1= $1 Canadian)

(Reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto)

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