Mumbai, June 1 -- Domestic equity markets ended lower on Monday as fresh geopolitical tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment, triggering broad-based selling across sectors.

The NSE Nifty 50 index closed at 23,382.60, down 165.15 points or 0.70 per cent, while the BSE Sensex settled at 74,267.34, falling 508.40 points or 0.68 per cent.

Market experts said recent US strikes and escalating cross-border hostilities concerning Israel and Lebanon have increased geopolitical uncertainty, leading investors to adopt a risk-off approach.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments Limited, said, "Recent US strikes and the escalation in cross-border hostilities between Israel and Lebanon have exerted selling pressure on equity...