Mumbai: Extending its rally to straight fourth week, the SENSEX flared up by 4.33 per cent to 62-week high at the end of the week under review on the Bombay Stock Exchange on sustained net investments by foreign funds coupled with heavy bull support.

The BSE benchmark 30-share index rose past 3,500-mark during the June 20 session before ending the week at 3,499.50 as against last weekend's close of 3,354.14, a net gain of 145.39 points, taking the total gains of four successive weeks to 449.66 points or 14.74 per cent.

The market has been in a bull grip with operators making large commitments in several blue-chip counters, encouraged by consistent net purchases by foreign institutional investors that have made heavy net investments of Rs 1,017 crore in the first two weeks of the month followed by fresh net purchases of Rs 710 crore in the first four sessions of the current week.

The increased activity by FIIs, which have been making heavy net investments in old economy sector since the beginning of the last month was largely attributed to the strength of Indian economy and the government's fresh steps on disinvestment programme.

Enthused by the positive investment atmosphere, bulls have taken control of the market by enlarging commitments in several heavy weighted counters besides many B1 and B2 scrips.

Private mutual funds too were active and seemed to be heavy buyers in prominent stocks including HLL.

PTI