TEL AVIV -- Sun Life Financial Inc., the Toronto financial-services provider, narrowed its third-quarter loss to C$140 million, or C$0.25 a share, from C$396 million, or C$0.71, in the year-earlier quarter. Return on equity for the latest period was negative 3.5% compared with negative 10.2%. The loss stemmed from updates of equity- and interest-rate-related actuarial assumptions, which the company announced Aug. 6. The company increased its reserves for downgrades on its investment portfolio. Chief Executive Donald A. Stewart said in a Thursday statement that he saw "encouraging signs of progress, including strong net flows and asset levels which reached a 12-month high at MFS."

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