Mumbai, Oct. 22 -- The key equity benchmarks fell for the third consecutive session on Thursday, with the Nifty slipping below the 22,700 mark. Rising crude oil prices above $110 per barrel and escalating geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment. Broader market indices declined, while all sectoral indices ended lower except pharma. IT and FMCG stocks tumbled, while the rupee snapped its eight-session gaining streak.

The S&P BSE Sensex tanked 460.30 points or 0.62% to 73,249.39. The Nifty 50 index lost 123.70 points or 0.54% to 22,687.65. In the three consecutive trading sessions, both the Sensex and Nifty have declined 1.98% each.

Eternal (down 2.53%), Reliance Industries (down 2.03%) and HDFC Bank (down 1.82%) were major Nif...