IN BRIEF (Page 17)

MetLife to miss estimates

MetLife Inc, the biggest US life insurer, said it expects 2009 operating profit to fall short of analysts' estimates as the economy weakens.

Earnings, excluding investment gains and losses, will probably be $3.60 to $4.00 a share, the New York-based company said yesterday in a statement distributed by Business Wire. That compares with the $4.48 average estimate of 18 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.