China Life, the nation's largest life insurer, said on Thursday night its net profit is estimated to grow at least 50 percent in 2009 from a year ago.

The sharp increase is boosted by strong gains in investment thanks to the bullish capital market last year, the company said in a preliminary report posted on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange before its annual report release.

The company's 2008 net profit was 10.07 billion yuan (US$1.47 billion). Earnings per share was 0.36 yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2010)