Sun Life Financial Inc. today reported that its second-quarter profit rose 8.9% on a strong performance across all business units.

The insurer said net income for the quarter climbed to $477 million, or 81¢ a share, from $438 million, or 73¢ a share, in the year-before quarter.

Quarterly revenue climbed to $6.03 billion from $5.55 billion in the year-earlier period.

Return on equity rose to 13% from 12%.

Sun Life said its Canadian business earned the largest share of profit, while its U.S. units and SLF Asia also reported higher income.

Only Sun Life’s corporate unit showed lower profit in the second quarter, primarily because last year’s results included a gain. Lower earnings at SLF U.K., which is part of this unit, reflected the impact of the appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the British pound, the company said.

Chief executive Donald Stewart said the company has made “significant advances both financially and strategically to position the company for growth.”

“The recently announced transaction in Hong Kong will meaningfully increase our presence in that market, is accretive to EPS and ROE, and is entirely consistent with the type of transaction we are committed to executing — it is the right fit, at the right price, at the right time,” said CEO Donald Stewart, in a news release.

“The transaction is also reflective of our commitment to Asia as an engine of significant long-term growth for the Company. Overall, we are very pleased with our progress in the quarter,” he said.

Earlier this month, Sun Life announced it will buy Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd.’s Hong Kong life insurance and financial planning assets for $560 million to increase its exposure to China.

Also today, Sun Life raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to 25.5¢ a share.

Sun Life shares closed up 50¢ at $44.80.