Sun Life Financial Inc. today announced operating earnings of $583 million. Fully diluted operating earnings per share of $1.01 increased 9% over the third quarter of 2006. The strengthening of the Canadian dollar relative to foreign currencies since the third quarter of 2006 reduced earnings by $19 million or $0.04 per share.

Excluding the impact of currency, operating EPS would have increased by 13% over the same period last year. Operating return on equity was 14.8% for the quarter.

“Strong sales and bottom line growth demonstrate Sun Life’s continuing business momentum across all of its markets and its consistent capacity to deliver on commitments,” said CEO Donald Stewart in a news release.

“Our financial results this quarter reflect the diversity of our earnings platform and our strong risk management capabilities,” added CFO Richard McKenney. “Despite volatile economic conditions, we’re progressing steadily toward achieving our medium-term financial objectives.”

Operating earnings, operating EPS and operating ROE for the third quarter of 2007 exclude after-tax charges to earnings of $5 million for re-branding expenses in Canada and $1 million for the integration costs in SLF U.S.’s Employee Benefits Group. Including these charges, EPS and ROE for the quarter were $1.00 and 14.7%, respectively.

Among Sun Life’s business highlights, individual segregated fund sales in Canada, including deposits from the SunWise Elite Plus guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit rider, increased by 75% to $446 million in the third quarter of 2007 over the same period last year.