New Delhi, July 13 -- The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open lower on Monday, tracking weak cues from global markets, as the escalation in the US-Iran war and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz lifted crude oil prices sharply higher and stoked inflation fears.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a gap-down start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 24,034 level, a discount of nearly 207 points from the Nifty futures' previous close.

On Friday, the Indian stock market ended sharply higher, led by a broad-based rally across sectors, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing above 24,200 level.

The Sensex surged 827.57 points, or 1.08%, to close at 77,569.39, while t...