The average high performer on our list has been expanding earnings at 28% a year and returning 20% annualized gains to shareholders over the past five years.

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But Singapore, another high performer, has the highest level.

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This high performer had become a liability.

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Thailand, a consistent high-performer in quality of life surveys, gets raves from expats for increasing their standard of living.

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In a series of interviews in and around Los Angeles in recent days at a Latin restaurant she owns, in meetings for her charitable foundation, and on-set as she acted in a potato-chip commercial Ms. Longoria shifted back and forth from high-wattage performer to nerdy student of politics and policy.

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Whole Foods has been a strong performer for several years with consistently high same-store sales, good cash flow, strong gross margins and controlled expansion.

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After two preview shows were cancelled earlier this week, Manilow's website posted a statement saying the Grammy-winning performer would be ready for opening night "come hell or high water".

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Either as a performer or as a punter, there is a uniqueness about the High street and The Pleasance which just seem rightly placed in this historic city for entertainment, not to mention all the other wee venues, where a stand up comic or a jazz sax player can play to one or twenty.

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