One-month gain for investors at Rs 1.68 trillion

Sensex soars; early January erosion offset

Investor wealth has jumped a sharp 10.89 per cent or Rs 1,68,745 crore (Rs 1 lakh crore = 1 trillion) in the last one month, between January 12 and February 14, 2005: from Rs 15,50,038 crore to Rs 17,18,783 crore.

But this has only bridged the slippage in the valuations between January 3 and January 12, when investors had seen an erosion of 9.3 per cent or Rs 1,59,794 crore in their wealth.

The market capitalisation on the bourses had slipped from Rs 17,09,832 crore to Rs 15,50,038 crore.

In this roller-coaster ride since the beginning of the year, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex first touched a peak of 6,679.20 on January 3, the first trading day of calender 2005.

In the next six trading sessions, the Sensex saw a correction of nearly 576 points to 6102.74 on January 12. The Sensex again bounced back and closed at an all time high of 6679.33 today.

While Sensex stocks lost 8.8 percent (Rs 65,739 crore) in market valuations between January 3 and January 12, they gained 8.95 per cent (Rs 60,865 crore) between January 12 and February 14.

Investors who had seen ONGC's valuation drop Rs 7,650 crore between January 3 and 12, can draw comfort that the counter has recovered Rs 6,716 crore between January 12 and February 14.

ONGC's stock price fell from Rs 830.45 on January 13 to Rs 776.80 on January 12 and later recovered at Rs 823.90 on February 14.

Among Sensex scrips, Infosys Technologies was the major gainer as it gained Rs 7077 crore between January 12 and February 14 against a erosion of Rs 5704 crore in market value between January 3 and January 12.