Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty continued to trade lower on Monday as the ongoing war in West Asia continue to rattle markets globally, driving crude oil prices higher.

At 10:45 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 72616.86 down by -966.36 points or by -1.31 % and then NSE Nifty was at 22529.15 down by -290.45 points or by -1.27 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 73165.32 and intraday low of 72391.98 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 22714.1 and intraday low of 22470.15

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Bharat Electronics Ltd. (Rs. 405.60,+0.21%), Reliance Industries Ltd. (Rs. 1349.50,+0.09%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (Rs. 295.55,+0.05%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 352.90,-3.57%), Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1162.40,-3.55%), Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Rs. 819.10,-2.99%), State Bank of India (Rs. 991.80,-2.77%), Bajaj Finserv Ltd. (Rs. 1648.50,-2.71%), among others.

Metal index was at 36859.24 up by 22.97 points or by 0.06%. National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 388.10,+4.62%), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Ltd. (Rs. 151.25,+3.28%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 892.60,+2.97%), Vedanta Ltd. (Rs. 663.30,+2.12%), Coal India Ltd. (Rs. 452.25,+1.59%),.

Bankex index was at 57281.34 down by -1535.59 points or by -2.61%. Au Small Finance Bank Ltd. (Rs. 846.00,-4.20%), Union Bank of India (Rs. 169.05,-3.81%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 352.90,-3.57%), IndusInd Bank Ltd. (Rs. 763.65,-3.56%), Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1162.40,-3.55%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4370 , shares advanced were 981 while 3167 shares declined and 222 were unchanged.