Wealth and asset management group Peregrine today announced a 126 percent increase in basic earnings to R123 million for the 6 months to 30 September 2009 on the back of a marked improvement in investment returns for the period. Headline earnings of R124.2 million were 128 percent higher than the same period last year. On a per share basis, this reflects an increase of 127 percent to 57.4 cents in basic earnings per share and an increase of 129percent to 58.0 cents in headline earnings per share.