The Toronto financial services firm reported core earnings per share—which exclude certain non-recurring income and expenses—of $1.03, almost nine per cent higher than the $0.95 analysts had predicted and about nine per cent higher than last year. Manulife shares finished Thursday trading up almost 7 per cent. (The Logic)

Talking point: Manulife’s Asia and wealth management segments powered the growth, each racking up double-digit gains from last year, and increasing core earnings for those divisions 16 per cent to $477 million and 34 per cent to $481 million, respectively. Incoming Manulife CEO Phil Witherington, who will replace Roy Gori when he retires on May 8, said on a call with analysts he “will be laser focused on executing in Asia” and finding a successor to replace himself as head of the segment. Manulife also announced plans to buy back up to three per cent of its shares and raised its dividend by 10 per cent.