South Africa's Lewis Group posts 13 pct fall in H1 profit

South African furniture retailer Lewis Group on Monday reported a 13 percent drop in first-half profit, citing weaker trading conditions in Africa's most advanced economy. Headline earnings per share fell to 323 cents in the six months ended Sept. 30 from 373 cents a year earlier. Headline earnings per share is the main profit measure in South Africa and strips out certain one-off items.