New Delhi, March 19 -- The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open sharply lower on Thursday, tracking weakness in global markets, amid worries about the rising crude oil prices.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a gap-down start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,240 level, a discount of nearly 536 points from the Nifty futures' previous close.

The escalating US-Iran war and the attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf region sent crude oil prices above $100 per barrel. Investors sentiment also dampened after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rate unchanged and warned that surging energy prices could stoke inflation.

On Wednesday, the Indian stock mar...