Business Reporter
GAINS in selected heavyweight stocks helped the ZSE industrial index to maintain an upward trend yesterday as participation by foreign investors started picking up. Since the beginning of this month, foreign trades have been largely characterised by buying. Shares worth about US$15 million

were bought between September 3 and yesterday, according to statistics from the ZSE with about US$3,1 million worth of shares having changed hands over the two-week period. There is growing interest in stocks such as Delta Corporation, Innscor Africa, Econet Wireless, Dairibord Holdings and AICO Africa among foreign investors. Since the country adopted the multi-currency system in 2009, foreign investors have been the dominant players on the domestic bourse due to liquidity crunch prevailing on the market.

However, after Government announced its intention to acquire majority stakes in foreign-owned companies, many foreigners exited the bourse.
After trade yesterday, the industrial index was up 0,21 percent to 141,7 points. British America Tobacco and Pretoria Portland Cement rose US20c and US5c to US385c and US235c respectively.

Old Mutual gained US4,11c to US170,11c. Larfage rose US2c to US82c and Astra Holdings was US1,2c firmer at US5,2c. Afre Corp and AICO Africa were up US1c each to US7,5c and US11c respectively. ZBFH closed at US0,5c higher at US10c. On the downside was TN Bank, which fell US1c to 14 cents. Zimplow retreated US0,5c to US5c and Pearl Properties eased US0,3c to trade at 2,4c. Innscor  slipped US0,15c to US69,85c and Barclays Bank declined US01c to US2,9c. The mining index closed lower for the fourth consecutive day at 77,23 points after easing 0,75 percent on losses in Hwange Colliery Company Ltd.