Mumbai, Aug. 17 -- Key benchmark indices started the week on a weak note on Monday, with the Nifty slipping below 24,300 as elevated crude oil prices weighed on sentiment. Brent crude hovered around $89 a barrel amid the lack of progress in ending the Iran conflict. IT, FMCG and consumer durables shares were under pressure while metal shares climbed.

The S&P BSE Sensex lost 281.09 points or 0.36% to 77,728.16. The Nifty 50 index declined 78.35 points or 0.32% to 24,287.65.

Infosys (down 2.51%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 2.49%) and Bharti Airtel (down 1.14%) were major Nifty drags today.

The broader market outperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index rose 0.18% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index advanced 0.06%.

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