Scotiabank eyes acquisitions after earnings beat view

By Matt Scuffham TORONTO (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia, Canada's third-biggest lender, said it could take advantage of its financial strength to make acquisitions in the Pacific Alliance trade bloc after reporting better-than-expected profit. Scotiabank said on Tuesday its earnings per share increased to C$1.58 from C$1.46 in the same period the previous year. Analysts had on average forecast earnings of C$1.51, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company's shares rose as much as 2 perce