Mumbai, Sept. 30 -- The key equity benchmarks ended lower on Wednesday, extending their decline for a third consecutive session, as healthcare and metal stocks came under selling pressure. The Nifty settled below the 22,650. Realty and banking stocks, including private lenders, advanced and limited the overall decline.

Elevated crude oil prices and continued foreign institutional investor (FII) selling weighed on sentiment. Investors remained cautious amid elevated global bond yields and geopolitical uncertainties. Market participants are also tracking US inflation data and movements in crude oil prices and bond yields for cues on the global interest-rate outlook.

The S&P BSE Sensex declined 48.78 points or 0.07% to 72,480.29. The Nifty...