Aon Corp posts 2.3 pct profit increase in 1st qtr

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Aon Corp (AOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's second largest insurance broker, said on Thursday earnings rose by 2.3 percent in the first quarter as consulting revenue grew.

Aon, which helps business clients secure insurance coverage, said net earnings increased to $218 million, or 68 cents a share, from $213 million, or 66 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.

Income from continuing operations, excluding items, was 71 cents, compared with analysts' average expectation of 63 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue rose 7 percent to $1.9 billion.

Chicago-based Aon earlier this month estimated a pretax gain of about $1.3 billion in the second quarter largely as a result of selling Combined Insurance Cos of America to Ace Limited (ACE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

(Reporting by Lilla Zuill and Dan Wilchins; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Richard Chang)