May 7 (Reuters) - Manulife Financial ( MFC ) 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)

(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by

Anil D'Silva)