Investors have seen their wealth, measured in terms of market capitalisation of all the listed companies, growing by Rs 200 crore in every minute of trade so far in 2008, against an average of Rs 42 crore a minute in 2007. This is based on five hours and 35 minutes of trading in a day. Bourses saw 250 days of trading in 2007, while there have been four trading sessions so far in 2008.

Even the market benchmark Sensex has started the new year on nearly four-times faster rate than 2007 when measured in terms of adding to the investors wealth. The last year saw the Sensex gaining 6,500.08 points with an average gain of about 26 points a day. In four trading days so far this year, it has gained 399.9 points with an average of 99 points a day.

The 30-share barometer index rose from 13,786.91 points to 20,286.99 points during 2007, while it settled at 20,686.89 points on Friday last week. The total investors wealth surged by more than Rs 35 trillion during 2007, while it has already grown by more than Rs 2.66 trillion so far in 2008.

Wealth surges

The total market cap stood at Rs 71,69,983 crore on December 31, 2007, as against Rs 36,24,357 crore at 2006-end. The market capitalisation has grown to a record high of Rs 74,36,689 crore, as on January 4, 2008.

The gain of Rs 35,45,626 crore in the investors’ wealth results into an average gain of Rs 14,182.5 crore in one trading session or Rs 42 crore every minute.

However, the gain of Rs 2,66,706 crore so far in 2008 gives an average of Rs 66,676 per trading session or Rs 199 crore per minute.