Indian benchmark indices BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 ended sharply lower on Friday, weighed down by escalating tensions in West Asia and a surge in global crude oil prices.

Investor sentiment was further hit by heavy selling in global markets, persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, and continued weakness in the Indian rupee.

The 30-share benchmark index ended at 74563.92 down by -1470.5 points or by -1.93 % and then NSE Nifty was at 23151.1 down by -488.05 points or by -2.06 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 75576.2 and intraday low of 74454.6 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 23492.4 and intraday low of 23112

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2160.55,+1.18%), Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 1806.70,+0.33%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (Rs. 3440.95,-7.52%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 183.40,-5.20%), State Bank of India (Rs. 1046.80,-3.55%), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Rs. 12610.00,-3.12%), Bharat Electronics Ltd. (Rs. 439.60,-3.12%), among others.

FMCG index was at 17573.06 up by -135.69 points or by -0.77%. Zydus Wellness Ltd. (Rs. 403.85,+3.99%), Tata Consumer Products Ltd. (Rs. 1083.75,+2.49%), Hatsun Agro Products Ltd. (Rs. 950.85,+1.70%), Flair Writing Industries Ltd (Rs. 303.20,+1.66%), United Breweries Ltd. (Rs. 1674.00,+1.64%),.

Metal index was at 37268.72 down by -1889.53 points or by -4.83%. Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1142.80,-6.72%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 909.45,-6.23%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 386.90,-5.46%), Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (Rs. 551.85,-5.33%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 183.40,-5.20%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 4632 , shares advanced were 1006 while 3470 shares declined and 156 were unchanged.