New Delhi, March 12 -- Indian stock markets settled 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 frontline indices continued to fall.

Sensex closed at 76,034.42 points, down 829.29 points or 1.08 per cent, while Nifty closed at 23,639.15 points, down 227.70 or 0.95 per cent.

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 further concerns about disruptions in global energy supply.

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said, "External headwinds have pushed the ma...