Mumbai, July 23 -- Indian equity markets ended lower on Thursday as rising crude oil prices and fresh geopolitical tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment, dragging both benchmark indices into the red.

The BSE Sensex declined 363.66 points, or 0.47 per cent, to close at 76,391.39, while the NSE Nifty50 fell 126.65 points, or 0.53 per cent, to settle at 23,869.60.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said, "With crude oil prices approaching USD 100/bbl amid concerns over further disruptions to global energy supplies, investor sentiment remained subdued as markets reassessed inflation risks and corporate margins".

He added that recent macroeconomic indicators suggest that prolonged geopolitical tensions a...