Manulife profit rises on growth in Asia, wealth management

May 7 (Reuters) - Manulife Financial MFC.TO posted a 3% jump in first-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by continued growth in its Asia, and global wealth and asset management business.

The company's core earnings jumped to C$1.77 billion ($1.28 billion), or 99 Canadian cents per share, in the three months ended March 31 from C$1.71 billion, or 91 Canadian cents per share, a year earlier.

($1 = 1.3838 Canadian dollars)