41.   The earnings come as Woolwich and three other former building societies become banks this year to better compete in a consolidating financial services market.

42.   The earnings come after Bankers Trust last week announced plans to buy the Baltimore brokerage Alex.

43.   The disappointing earnings came, coincidentally, just as the proposed global alliance between American Airlines and British Airways fell apart.

44.   The earnings come after the insurer received regulatory approval in February to split its U.S. property and casualty business into two units.

45.   The earnings come amid strong second-quarter performances for other major drug companies due to strong sales of newer, higher-margin drugs and cost controls.

46.   The earnings come as graying baby boomers socked away more retirement savings in mutual funds in the second quarter.

47.   The earnings come less than a week after the insurer received regulatory approval to split its U.S. property and casualty business into two units.

48.   The growth in earnings comes as Rhone-Poulenc reorganizes its businesses to concentrate on healthcare.

49.   The improved earnings come as brokerages surge amid rallying stock and bond markets, buoyant underwriting and a record pace for corporate mergers.

50.   The remaining earnings came from the food operations.