The domestic equity benchmark indices tanked in early trade on Monday, driven by surging crude oil prices that touched over USD 90 per barrel mark, the highest in nearly a month amid the escalating tensions in West Asia.

After rebounding in previous trade on Friday, led by optimism around Tech Mahindra’s quarterly earnings results and anticipated earnings of Reliance Industries (RIL) and leading bank stocks, the 30-share BSE Sensex slid 651.47 points or 0.83 per cent to 77,499.98 points in early deals on Monday. The 50-share Nifty too declined 169.70 points or 0.70 per cent to 24,164. 60 in the early trade.
 
The Sensex remained unchanged at 78,151.45 at the opening, while the Nifty slipped to 24,190.05, losing 143.40 points.