Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading lower on Monday, as surging crude oil prices and weak global equity trends amid escalating tensions in the Middle East dragged domestic markets sharply lower.

At 12:40 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 76991.28 down by -1927.62 points or by -2.44 % and then NSE Nifty was at 23867.5 down by -582.95 points or by -2.38 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 77333.85 and intraday low of 76424.55 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 23959.7 and intraday low of 23697.8

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3152.15,-5.45%), State Bank of India (Rs. 1081.55,-5.42%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 13393.25,-5.34%), UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Rs. 11405.00,-4.85%), InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. (Rs. 4221.60,-4.15%), among others.

TECk index was at 15305.26 up by -137.83 points or by -0.89%. Tata Communications Ltd. (Rs. 1471.65,+1.05%), LTIMindtree Ltd. (Rs. 4308.95,+0.44%), Wipro Ltd. (Rs. 196.30,+0.41%),.

Auto index was at 57131.19 down by -2698.67 points or by -4.51%. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. (Rs. 330.60,-5.73%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3152.15,-5.45%), Bharat Forge Ltd. (Rs. 1820.00,-5.39%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 13393.25,-5.34%), Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd. (Rs. 116.30,-5.22%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4537 , shares advanced were 802 while 3550 shares declined and 185 were unchanged.