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for the Easter holiday at 162,63 points – buoyed by Thursday’s two Econet parcels valued at about US$1,8 million.
A total of 106 521 036 shares valued at US$6,6 million changed hands in the three-day week.
EFE Securities executed the first parcel of 150 000 Econet shares at a special bargain price of US490c and ISB Securities executed the bigger chunk, 209 345 shares valued at about US$1 025 000.
Another special bargain deal was recorded in financial counter NMB in which a local investor snapped up the 27 million shares at US1,1c. The deal was executed by Lynton-Edwards Securities.
Econet was also the biggest gainer on Thursday, putting on US14,01c to trade at US497,01c as the industrial index rose 1,45 percent compared to the previous week.
The mobile service provider has proved to be the most liquid counter as evidenced by the group’s total investment of US$270 million in network infrastructure over the past year, bringing total investment over the previous two years to over US$430 million.
In a statement accompanying its financial results for the full year to February, Econet said the investment in network infrastructure helped grow subscriber numbers 55 percent to 5,5 million customers by February.
Econet’s capital investment contributed the bulk of the growth in Zimbabwe’s mobile penetration rate, which rose from 40 percent last year to 66 percent in February this year.
The major network upgrade programme that has been a key focus at the company over the past two years would be completed this year, giving impetus to the performance of the stock.
On Thursday, one of the country’s biggest counters, Delta, was up 4,10c to US80,10c while Innscor, Meikles and TA inched up a cent each to US63c, US45c and US14c in that order with Fidelity Life advancing US0,48c to close at US6,50c.
However, M&R eased a cent to US17c, NTS slipped US0,50c to close at US4,40c as Barclays lost US0,48c to trade at US6,02c.
PG was down US0,25c to US2,25c.
During the period under review, the resources index lost 0,05 percent to close at 205,25 points.
Bindura lost US0,01c to trade at US8c whilst Falgold, Hwange and RioZim were unchanged at previous trading levels.
The mining index was down 4,81 percent compared to the previous week.
The market had opened the week low, experiencing thin trading volumes, as investors remained sceptical of the investment climate in Zimbabwe. Resultantly, trades saw turnover tumble to 372 644 on 1 868 859 shares.
Shares had closed the first day of trading in the negative as the mainstream industrial index slipped 0,25 percent to 159,91 points while the mining index lost 4,13 percent in one day to 206,72 points.
On Wednesday, the industrial index rebounded, firming 0,09 percent at 160,06 points driven by mobile operator Econet, which gained US2c to close at 483 cents.
Beverages manufacturer Delta, M&R, PPC and TA inched up a cent each to trade at US76c, US18c, US300c and US13c in that order.