May 8 (Reuters) - Sun Life Financial ( SLF ) on

Thursday reported a rise in first-quarter profit, as the life

insurer was helped by strength in its Asian markets and wealth

management business.

The company's net income was C$928 million ($666.9 million),

or C$1.62 per share, for the three months ended in March 31.

That compares with a profit of C$818 million, or C$1.40 per

share, last year.

($1 = 1.3916 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas and Jaiveer Shekhawat in Bengaluru;

Editing by Anil D'Silva)