New Delhi, March 9 -- Indian equities endured a punishing, volatile start to the week. While the Sensex initially plummeted more than 2,400 points and Nifty 50 broke below the 23,800 support level on Monday, a late tug-of-war saw the Nifty fight back to reclaim the psychologically important 24,000 mark.

This bruising session comes as the geopolitical landscape undergoes a dramatic shift. With the West Asia conflict entering a volatile new phase, crude oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel.

As the heat rises, Mint dives into six burning questions facing Dalal Street.

The domestic economy is essentially tethered to the volatility of global markets as India relies on imports for nearly 80% of its crude oil. When oil prices climb, it s...