India, Oct. 13 -- Equities Sensex and Nifty opened muted on Tuesday as investors tracked escalating Middle East tensions and elevated crude oil prices, while a faster-than-expected rise in retail inflation added to concerns over further interest rate hikes.

GIFT Nifty futures stood at 22,423.5 at 7:50 am, signalling a muted start for the Nifty 50, which closed at 22,363.35 on Monday, according to figures cited in a Reuters report.

India's retail inflation accelerated to a higher-than-expected 5.54 per cent in September, data showed on Monday, moving closer to the central bank's upper tolerance limit of six per cent. The rise strengthened the case for further rate hikes as the Iran war and a weak monsoon added to price pressures.

"If fo...