(Adds details on segments)
TORONTO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Insurer Sun Life Financial Inc
SLF.TO reported higher fourth-quarter earnings, driven by
growth in its Canadian, Asian and asset management businesses.
Net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 was C$536 million
($384.89 million), or 87 Canadian cents a share, compared with
C$502 million, or 81 Canadian cents a share, a year ago.
Underlying earnings rose to C$1.05 a share.
Analysts on average had expected earnings of 87 Canadian
cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Net income at its Canadian unit jumped nearly 80 percent,
reflecting some gains from investing activities.
Profit from Asia, where Toronto-based Sun Life has been
expanding aggressively, climbed about 18 percent. Earnings at
its U.S. business declined.
Assets under management rose 21 percent to C$891 billion at
end of the quarter.
($1 = 1.3926 Canadian dollars)