BUZZ-Canada's Manulife jumps after higher Q4 profit

Canadian insurer Manulife Financial's MFC.TO shares rise 7% to C$45.29

MFC on Wednesday after market close posted higher fourth-quarter profit, bolstered by a thriving wealth and asset management business and strong growth in Asia

Core earnings from Asia jumped 16% to C$477 million ($336.18 million), while global wealth and asset management reported a 34% jump to C$481 million

Total core earnings rose 6% to C$1.91 billion, or C$1.03 per share, in the three months ended December 31

Analysts had expected a profit of nearly 95 Canadian cents per share, according to estimates compiled by LSEG

MFC shares have gained ~3% YTD, including session's move

($1 = 1.4189 Canadian dollars)