Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty plunged nearly 2 per cent on Monday as surging crude oil prices and weak global cues, amid escalating tensions in West Asia, triggered a sharp sell-off in the stock market.

The 30-share benchmark index ended at 77566.16 down by -1352.74 points or by -1.71 % and then NSE Nifty was at 24028.05 down by -422.4 points or by -1.73 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 77711.35 and intraday low of 76424.55 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 24078.15 and intraday low of 23697.8

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Reliance Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1424.45,+1.37%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1807.60,+0.48%), Infosys Ltd. (Rs. 1314.35,+0.47%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1335.50,+0.26%), HCL Technologies Ltd. (Rs. 1358.60,+0.13%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Rs. 11360.00,-5.23%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 13487.25,-4.68%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3187.25,-4.39%), State Bank of India (Rs. 1098.70,-3.92%), InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. (Rs. 4236.00,-3.83%), among others.

_IT index was at 29191.65 up by -27.71 points or by -0.09%. R Systems International Ltd. (Rs. 299.35,+16.00%), Affle 3I Ltd. (Rs. 1391.30,+2.94%), Subex Ltd. (Rs. 8.65,+2.13%), Wipro Ltd. (Rs. 198.60,+1.59%), Rashi Peripherals Ltd. (Rs. 354.80,+1.04%),.

Auto index was at 57504.46 down by -2325.4 points or by -3.89%. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. (Rs. 331.95,-5.35%), Bosch Ltd. (Rs. 31610.00,-5.22%), Tube Investments of India Ltd. (Rs. 2580.40,-5.19%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 13487.25,-4.68%), Eicher Motors Ltd. (Rs. 7263.55,-4.66%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4744 , shares advanced were 1040 while 3499 shares declined and 205 were unchanged.