Q1Manulife Financial Corp reported an 18.3 per cent jump in first-quarter earnings on Wednesday as Canadas largest insurer gained from robust demand in Asia. Canadian insurance companies are expanding rapidly in Asia, selling products to a growing middle class. The strategy is helping the firms drive growth and diversify from domestic markets where competition is intense. Manulife has benefited from a partnership with Singapores DBS Group, agreed in 2015, through which it sells its products through the lenders Asian branch network. The company said its total core earnings rose to $1.3 billion, or 64 cents per share, in the quarter ended March 31, from $1.1 billion, or 53 cents, a year earlier. Core earnings from the companys Asia division rose 19.6 per cent to $427 million in the quarter. GLENN LOWSON/THE GLOBE AND MAIL