INSURANCE

Aetna Earnings Rise 20% in 1st Quarter: The largest publicly traded U.S. life and health insurer said stronger profit in its growing health insurance business pushed earnings to $124.1 million, or $1.07 a share, from $103.0 million, or 91 cents, a year earlier. Improved health insurance profit is vital for Aetna Life & Casualty Co., which sold its property and casualty insurance unit April 2 in order to acquire US Healthcare Inc. later this year. Although the results fell below the average estimate of $1.08 a share from Wall Street analysts, shares of Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna closed up 12.5 cents at $71.25 on the New York Stock Exchange.