MetLife Profits Rise 18 Percent

ing earnings rose 18 percent as stronger sales of individual life insurance and savings products outweighed lower profits from company-distributed products and a loss in the car and home insurance unit.

Second-quarter operating earnings, excluding some one-time charges related to its demutualization earlier this year, rose to $374 million, or 48 cents per share, from $317 million, or 40 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.