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/ 18 February 2008

Health professionals increase fees

The Health Professions Council of South Africa said on Sunday it was putting up its annual fees because of increased administrative costs. ”The figures we reached are not grotesque and council will continue looking at better models of financing its business so as to alleviate the burden on practitioners,” said Council Registrar Boyce Mkhize.

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/ 18 February 2008

Group Five H1 headline EPS up 41%

South African construction and engineering firm Group Five boosted half-year headline earnings per share by 41%, and predicted more growth as it benefits from a construction boom. The company said headline EPS from continuing operations rose to R1,74 from R1,23 in the six months to end December.

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/ 18 February 2008

Cheers as Toshiba nears HD DVD surrender

Investors cheered an impending end to a format war for next-generation DVDs on Monday, pushing up shares of both Toshiba, on the verge of abandoning its HD DVD discs, and Sony, the leader of the rival Blu-ray camp. Toshiba shares jumped 5,1% as analysts praised its decision to cut its losses.

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/ 18 February 2008

Kosovo awaits recognition, and Serb challenge

Kosovo looked forward on Monday to recognition by the Western powers who went to war to save its Albanian majority, but Russia served notice the new state will never be forced on its Serb allies in the territory. Fireworks brought to a close a day of celebration in the Kosovo capital Pristina, where Parliament adopted a declaration of independence from Serbia.

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/ 18 February 2008

JSE stays firmer led by banks

South African stocks were sharply higher at midday on Monday led by banks ahead of Absa’s year-end earnings, while stronger overseas markets and firm metal prices spurred broad-based gains, traders said. By noon, the broader all-share index had gained 1,27% to 28 867,61, lifted mainly by a 2,36% gain in banks.