Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: China Life Insurance Company, American International Group, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Amgen

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CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day
the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting
stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include:
China Life Insurance Company (NYSE: LFC), American International Group (NYSE:
AIG), Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and Amgen (Nasdaq:
AMGN).

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the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579

Here are highlights from Wednesday`sAnalyst Blog:

China Life`s Profits Grow

China Life Insurance Company (NYSE: LFC), the leading life insurer in China, has
posted a 15% rise in profits in the first half of 2009 compared to the
prior-year period. The company earned 18.2 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) in the
first half of 2009 driven by gains realized on financial investments. The gains
stemmed from the capital market rally in China.

Gross yield on its investments in the period was up 3.27% from 2.31%. Gross
written premiums and policy fees were up 11% to 87.86 billion yuan. The increase
was mainly attributable to an increase in its insurance business. Renewal
premiums grew 23% year-over-year, while the proportion of renewal premiums to
gross written premiums increased to 66.84% in the first half of 2009 from 60.44%
in the year-ago period.

The company said that it may invest in AIA, which is planning a Hong Kong
initial public offering (IPO). AIA is the Asia unit of American International
Group (NYSE: AIG). Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) have
been appointed by AIG as its joint global coordinators for a more than $4
billion IPO for AIA. The company is also eyeing an equity tie-up with
Agricultural Bank of China. However, the company does not intend to sell its
5.1% stake in Minsheng Banking Corporation.

The company is also a leading provider of annuity products and life insurance
for both individuals and groups and a leading provider of accident and health
insurance. China Life`s market share in the first half of 2009 was approximately
39.2%.

Amgen`s Kidney Drug Fails

Yesterday, Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) said that Aranesp failed in a large, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study that was conducted in patients
with chronic kidney disease (not requiring dialysis), anemia and type II
diabetes.

The study, referred to as the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Endpoints with
Aranesp Therapy (TREAT), had two primary endpoints. The first evaluated time to
all-cause mortality or cardiovascular morbidity including heart attack,
congestive heart failure, hospitalization for angina, or stroke. The second
primary endpoint evaluated time to all-cause mortality or chronic dialysis.

Aranesp could not show statistically significant improvement in either. While a
higher number of strokes were observed in the Aranesp-treated group compared to
the placebo arm, we note that drug`s label already carries a warning regarding
the stroke events.

Full efficacy and safety analyses are yet to take place. Amgen will present full
results at an upcoming medical meeting later this year.

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