New Delhi, May 11 -- Indian equity benchmarks opened in the red on Monday as geopolitical tensions, rising crude oil prices, and concerns over foreign exchange outflows weighed on investor sentiment. Prime Minister Modi's appeals to curb foreign exchange outflows and weak global cues from Wall Street futures added pressure to domestic markets.

At the opening bell, the BSE SENSEX stood at 76,378.03 points, marking a decline of 950.16 points or 1.23 per cent. Similarly, the NIFTY 50 reached 23,900.25 points, down by 275.90 points or 1.14 per cent.

The jewellery sector faced heavy selling pressure after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens on Sunday to conserve foreign exchange reserves. The Prime Minister requested the public...