May 1 (Reuters) - Manulife Financial Corp MFC.TO :
* MANULIFE REPORTS 1Q19 NET INCOME OF $2.2 BILLION AND CORE EARNINGS OF $1.5 BILLION WITH STRONG GROWTH IN ASIA
* Q1 SALES ROSE 23 PERCENT TO C$1.7 BILLION
* QTRLY DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $1.08
* QTRLY DILUTED CORE EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $0.76
* QTRLY RETURN ON COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ("ROE") 20.1% VERSUS 14.1%
* MANULIFE FINANCIAL - REPORTED NEGATIVE GLOBAL WEALTH AND ASSET MANAGEMENT NET FLOWS OF $1.3 BILLION IN 1Q19 COMPARED WITH POSITIVE NET FLOWS OF $10.0 BILLION IN 1Q18
* REPORTED ANNUALIZED PREMIUM EQUIVALENT ("APE") SALES OF $1.7 BILLION IN 1Q19, AN INCREASE OF 23% COMPARED WITH 1Q18
* QTRLY WEALTH AND ASSET MANAGEMENT ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION $648.1 BILLION VERSUS $626.8 BILLION