Mumbai, July 20 -- Key equity benchmarks ended lower on Monday, with the Nifty closing below the 24,250 mark, dragged by heavy selling in private banking stocks following their quarterly earnings. Investor sentiment remained subdued amid weak global cues, escalating Middle East tensions and elevated crude oil prices. Broader markets outperformed the benchmarks, with the midcap and smallcap indices ending marginally higher. Among sectors, PSU banks, pharma and energy stocks advanced, while private banks emerged as the biggest losers.

The S&P BSE Sensex tanked 442.93 points or 0.57% to 77,708.52. The Nifty 50 index fell 95.80 points or 0.39% to 24,238.50.

The broader market outperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index adde...