12:03 PM EST - Manulife Financial Corp. : reported a 31 percent leap in third-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by growth in its existing business, investment related gains and a favorable claims environment. Net income was $975 million, or 62 cents a share, for the three months ended September 30. That was up sharply from $746 million, or 46 cents a share, in the same 2005 period, when Manulife was hit by the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Manulife Financial Corp.
T.MFC are trading up 54 cents at $37.28.
