Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, which was 10th in terms of market capitalisation on February 2000, when the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex first crossed 6,000, is now number one.

When the Sensex touched the magical figure of 6,000 on February 11, 2000, for the first time, the top 10 slots in the market capitalisation table was dominated by five infotech stocks.

Two were refinery stocks, while one each was from the media, telecom and fast moving consumer goods industries.

While refineries still find a place on the list, old economy stocks have recaptured most of the other positions.

The total market capitalisation of the bourses on Friday stands at an all-time high of Rs 1,312,800 crore (Rs 13,128 billion), 20.2 per cent higher than Rs 1,091,982 crore (Rs 10,919.82 billion) on February 11, 2000.

The share of the top 10 companies in the total market capitalisation, however, has slipped from 48.6 per cent in 2000 to 38 per cent in 2004.

Today, ONGC tops the market capitalisation chart at Rs 131,050 crore (Rs 1,310.50 billion). Reliance Industries, which was fifth in 2000, has advanced to the second position with Rs 81,785 crore (Rs 817.85 billion).

Indian Oil Corporation, State Bank of India, ITC, Gail India and Steel Authority of India Ltd, which were nowhere in the top 10 list in 2000, now sit pretty on the third, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th ranks, respectively.

Amid all this churning, FMCG entry Hindustan Lever has retained its fourth rank, though its market capitalisation has decreased from Rs 51,618 crore (Rs 516.18 billion) in 2000 to Rs 47,447 crore (Rs 474.47 billion) in 2004.

Wipro has fallen from first to fifth position and Infosys Technologies from second to sixth. HCL Technologies, Himachal Futuristic, Pentamedia Graphics, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Zee Telefilms are now out of the top 10 list.