Harare — THERE was mild reaction on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange towards the week's interim results, with investors remaining cautious, forcing the industrial index to trade 0,75 points (o,55 percent) lower at 136,58.

Overall, the industrial index was 0,95 percent lower during the just ended week. Small caps dominated the day's risers, CAPS and Willdale were up 25 percent apiece at 2,5 cents and 0,25 cents respectively.

Properties ZPI and Mash gained 10 percent and 8 percent to 0,46 cents and 1,3 cents correspondingly. FBC holdings was bid only at 2,5 cents, the group posted a pretax profit of US$1,8 million, boosted by US$5,1 million non funded income.

In anticipation of a further positive result CBZ inched 0,2 cents to 14,2 cents. In spite of a US$3,4 million loss TA Holdings traded unchanged at 85 cents. Old Mutual inched slightly to 140 cents, close enough to regional parity level (JSE 152 cents) and (LSE 152.8 cents).

After reports that Shoprite of South Africa is quoting OK, it managed to add a further 0,40 cents to settle at 7,10 cents. Medtech was the biggest faller of the day, shedding off half of its value at 0,1 cents.

Pearl Properties was 20 percent lower at 2 cents, however thin volumes were traded. The company reported a US$19,1 million impairment on property valuations.

On the minings index, a six percent surge in Hwange resulted in the index firming 1,9 percent at 197,05 points. Falgold and Rio Zim traded unchanged at 11 cents and 250 cents, while BNC did not trade with buyers only at 19 cents.

Overall the mining index traded 10,63 percent lower during the just ended week. Largely, the stock market has of late been recording losses on almost a daily basis, a development that has been attributed to lack of liquidity in the market.

The stock market is expected to be depressed in the short to medium term as it cleans itself of speculators leaving the market with institutional investors, pension funds and other long-term investors.