The $1 billion market cap membership hovered between 25 and 30 in the seven years between 1997 and 2003. The $1 billion club membership crossed 50 in 2004 and has almost doubled over the last two years.
Of the entire lot, 12 companies have market cap of over $10 billion against three in 2004 -- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Reliance Industries and Indian Oil Corporation. In 2003, only ONGC had a total market cap of over $10 billion (Rs 52,346 crore).
ONGC was on the top of the list in 1997 and 1998, and again since 2002. Wipro topped the $1 billion list in 2000 and 2001, while Hindustan Lever was the topper in 1999 and 2002.
The $1 billion membership was crowded on account of new listings. NTPC and TCS, which went public in 2004, got into the list on the day of listing. On Monday, TCS is ranked number four with market cap of $18.23 billion (Rs 80,638 crore).
Other notable, newly listed companies that got into the $1 billion club include NTPC, ranked at number three with market cap of $22.04 billion (Rs 97,503 crore), Bharti Tele-Ventures with $15.79 billion, Suzlon Energy $6.92 billion, Jet Airways $1.93 billion, IDFC $1.78 billion, Patni Computer $1.48 billion and Punj Lloyd $1.35 billion.
ONGC has been the leader for the last four years on the trot with market cap of $ 38.38 billion. Reliance Industries has been ranked number two with market cap of $22.70 billion.
NTPC has been at number three slot with market cap of $22.04 billion, followed by TCS at number four ($18.23 billion) and Infosys Technologies at number five ($17.62 billion).
Of the 99 companies , as many as 89 are from the A group, while seven are from B1 group. Essar Oil with market cap of $1.05 billion represents the B group, Financial Technologies with market cap of $1.29 billion represents T group and NMDC with $5.61 billion belongs to Z group.
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