** Shares of insurer Unum Group UNM.N rise ~1% to $74.72 in early trading
** UNM late Tuesday announced its board had authorized repurchase of up to $1 billion of its common stock from time to time beginning on April 1
** Co's board also authorize the termination of UNM's current share repurchase program
** UNM stock jumped 61.5% in 2024
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))