India, April 20 -- India's stock market was mixed in the first hour of trading as a wave of upbeat earnings from some of India's largest private banks struggled to offset mounting geopolitical anxieties that pushed crude oil prices toward the $100 mark.

The benchmark NSE Nifty 50 Index fluctuated within 1% of previous close, hitting an intraday high of 24,420.20 points and an intraday low of 24,241.25, while the S&P BSE Sensex hovered near the flatline. The start reflects a cautious standoff between local strength and overseas weakness.

The financial sector, which carries the heaviest weight in the Nifty 50, provided a critical floor for the market. ICICI Bank Ltd. jumped as much as 1% after posting march-quarter profits, signaling robu...