THE privatisation of Zambia’s mining assets has resulted in mounting optimism that the Lusaka Stock Exchange could register growth this year. The bourse’s market capitalisation for January 1999 improved to $318-million against $273-million recorded in February 1999. At its peak in 1999, LuSE registered a market capitalisation of $698-million, largely on expectations of privatisation of the mining industry. Economists said the improvement came after the Zambian government signed a memorandum of understanding with Angola American Corporation for the purchase of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines at Nkana, Nchanga, Nampundwe and Konkola.