Mumbai, July 30 -- Indian benchmark equity indices opened on a subdued note on Thursday as rising crude oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment, offsetting support from resilient domestic fundamentals and foreign investor buying.

At the opening bell, the BSE Sensex was trading at 77,638.86, down 15.74 points or 0.02 per cent, while the Nifty 50 stood at 24,249.55, lower by 0.65 points.

Market experts said investors remained cautious as Brent crude hovered near USD 90 per barrel amid renewed geopolitical tensions involving the US and Iran.

Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI, "Indian markets are trying to decouple from the global chip carnage, but crude remains the tether. This mor...