South Africa's Lewis Group says slowing economy hits earnings

South African furniture retailer Lewis Group said its full-year profit fell 26.5 percent as its lower-to-middle income customers continued to face a tough economic climate in Africa's most advanced economy. Headline EPS is the main profit gauge in South Africa that strips out certain one-off items. The company also had to pay 67.1 million rand ($4.30 million) to customers it had mistakenly sold loan insurance to last year following an investigation by South Africa's credit regulator.