Net profit surges 12% at France's AXA insurance

French insurance group AXA, number two in Europe after German giant Allianz, said Wednesday its net profit surged 12 percent last year to 5.02 billion euros ($5.7 billion). "Even though the global economic landscape remains uncertain, the group has shown its ability to generate results that are perfectly in line with its long-term goals," chief executive Henri de Castries told a news conference.