The equity markets are set to cross another milestone, an 18-year record at that. This calendar year, the benchmark 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex has closed higher on 111 days (57 per cent) of the 194 total trading days till October 14. In percentage terms, this is a record seen after 1985.

Of the total 202 trading days in 1985, the Sensex was up on 117 days (58 per cent). With another 50 trading sessions to go in the current calendar year, the Sensex is all set to break this 18-year-old record.

In the current calendar year, the Sensex has risen by more 1465 points from 3390.12 on January 1 to 4855.26 today. The jump has been even more stark from its lowest point in the year, at 2924.03 on April 25.

But the Sensex has still a long way to go before its reaches the all time high record of 1981. Of the 174 trading sessions in that year, the Sensex closed higher 61 per cent of the time (107 days). Of course, the markets are very different in 2003 than they were in 1981.

Market sources said that of a total of 5,173 trading days since 1980 till October 14, 2003, the Sensex has closed higher on 2686 days, which makes up 52 per cent of the total. So the markets have already crossed this long-term average.