Mumbai, March 12 -- Indian stock markets opened in the red on Thursday as escalating tensions in West Asia and again a sharp rise in crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.

The benchmark indices came under pressure after Iran's Navy Chief reportedly said that vessels seeking to sail through the Strait of Hormuz would require Iran's approval or could be targeted, raising concerns about disruptions in global oil supply.

The Nifty 50 index opened at 23,674.85, declining -192 points or (-0.80 per cent), while the BSE Sensex opened at 76,369.65, down -494.06 points or -0.64 per cent.

Market experts attributed the early losses to global risk-off sentiment, rising crude prices and continued foreign investor outflows.

Ajay Bagga, Bank...