AXA Asia Pacific FY07 profit falls 4 percent

SYDNEY, Feb 19 (Reuters) - AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd (AXA.AX: Quote, Profile, Research), a unit of French insurer AXA SA (AXAF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), reported a 4 percent fall in full-year profit as investment returns dropped in the second-half.

AXA, which manages about A$109 billion ($100 billion), reported net profit of A$639 million compared with A$668 million a year ago.

Seven analysts on average had forecast AXA's net profit to be A$666 million, with estimates ranging from A$598-A$706 million.

AXA shares are down 27 percent in 2008, more than double the 12 percent fall in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index . ($1=A$1.09) (Reporting by Denny Thomas;)