Earnings per share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings per share - basic [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 36,735	$ 51,172	$ 104,764	$ 118,570
Income allocated to participating securities	(240)	(267)	(565)	(627)
Income available to common shareholders	36,495	50,905	104,199	117,943
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)	50,889	51,171	51,112	51,120
Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.99	$ 2.04	$ 2.31
Earnings per share - diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	36,735	51,172	104,764	118,570
Income allocated to participating securities	(166)	(265)	(325)	(625)
Re-measurement of share-based awards classified as liabilities	(77)	2	(65)	53
Income available to common shareholders	$ 36,492	$ 50,909	$ 104,374	$ 117,998
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)	50,889	51,171	51,112	51,120
Dilutive impact of potential common shares (in shares)	314	191	431	197
Weighted-average shares and potential common shares outstanding (in shares)	51,203	51,362	51,543	51,317
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.99	$ 2.02	$ 2.30
Antidilutive options excluded from calculation (in shares)	1,961	2,357	1,961	2,357

Income (loss) available to common shareholders after adjustment for participating securities, as used in the calculation of basic earnings per share.

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