The Zimbabwe dollar traded virtually unchanged against the United States dollar in the weekly foreign currency auction at 81.34.

The highest bidder on the main auction yesterday offered 87.1, while the lowest accepted bid remained at 79.

On the SMEs auction the highest offered remained at 86, while the lowest accepted bid was also unchanged at 79.

Corporates were alloted a total of US$27.05 million, while smaller businesses received a total of US$1.74 million from US$1.82 million last week.

Total foreign currency allocation was lower at US$28.7 million from US$29.2 million last week.

The main auction had 223 successful bidders allocated the US$27.05 million with another 15 bids disqualified. And on the SMEs board, 132 valid bidders received the total of US$1.74 million. 14 were disqualified on the smaller auction.

The manufacturing sector continue to the biggest beneficiaries of foreign currency allocations.

As per trend, the raw materials segment accounted for the bulk of the allotments with US$10.57 million on the main auction and US$379 237 on the SMEs board.

Machinery and equipment came in second with US$4.07 million on the main and US$399 295 on the SMEs. And consumables came in third on the main auction at US$2.69 million.

And on the SMEs segment, consumables took up US$484 901.