Indian equity benchmarks started the day with significant losses. The BSE Sensex opened lower at 74,309.16, a drop of nearly 600 points, while the NSE Nifty 50 began trade at 23,270.30, down 207.50 points.

Selling pressure was widespread, with metal and realty stocks leading the decline. Nifty Metal plunged over 3%, and Nifty Realty fell by more than 2%. Other sectors, including consumer durables and financial services, also saw declines.

Further details on the market trends and sector performance are available from the source. The declines were not universal, with Nifty IT gaining slightly, but overall the market opened sharply lower due to weak global cues and surging crude oil prices.