Equity investors have grown richer by a whopping Rs 25,46,954.71 crore in the first three months of the current fiscal, driven by upbeat market sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex has zoomed 2,973.56 points or 6 per cent so far this fiscal. The BSE benchmark reached its all-time high of 53,126.73 on June 28. It registered its record closing of 52,925.04 on June 25. Mirroring the optimistic sentiment, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies reached its lifetime peak of Rs 2,31,58,316.92 crore on June 15 this year.

The market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms touched the $3 trillion mark (about Rs 220 lakh crore) on May 24. In the entire 2020-21 fiscal, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies zoomed Rs 90,82,057.95 crore to Rs 2,04,30,814.54 crore. The 30-share BSE benchmark rose 20,040.66 points or 68 per cent last fiscal, braving many uncertainties due to the Covid-led disruptions.

Market analysts have said benchmarks are currently hovering near record highs largely due to gradual pickup in economic activities as states start unlocking and ramp-up of vaccination. Also, better-than-expected earnings performance of companies in the fourth quarter of financial year 2021, have supported the market's uptick.

The 30-share BSE index settled 66.95 points or 0.13 per cent lower at 52,482.71 on Wednesday.