** Hong Kong-listed shares of Manulife Financial rise 3.5% to HK$238.20, their biggest one-day pct gain since May 10

** Stock hits the highest since Oct 17, and on course for a fourth consecutive session of gains

** Manulife Financial posted a better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Wednesday, as the Canadian insurer benefited from a robust performance in its Asia and wealth management businesses

** Manulife's core earnings increased to C$1.00 per share in the three-month period ended Sept, from 92 Canadian cents apiece a year earlier, and analysts' average estimates of 94 Canadian cents per share, according to LSEG

** Hang Seng Commerce & Industry Index gains 0.3%, Index tracking financials stocks climbs 0.9% and Hang Seng Index adds 0.6%

** Manulife's Hong Kong shares up 34.3% YTD

(Reporting by Donny Kwok)

((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com))