CHINA LIFE ENJOYS PREMIUM GROWTH

China Life Insurance (Group) saw premium income in the first half of 2008 jump nearly 47% year-on-year. The group confirmed premium income for the period of Yuan195.5bn. Life insurance business accounted for the lion’s share at Yuan193bn, while non-life property insurance made up Yuan2.5bn. Analysts noted that premium income had held up well despite China’s weak stock market. China Life’s total assets at the end of the first half came to Yuan1.2trn.