Stock market recap, March 3 -- Indian equities witnessed a significant sell-off on Monday, 2 March, as escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia triggered a global "risk-off" sentiment.

The Nifty 50 plummeted 312.95 points (1.24%) to settle at 24,865.70, while Sensex shed 1,048.34 points (1.29%) to close at 80,238.85 in a volatile session. India VIX, or the fear gauge, surged more than 20% to cross the 17 level.

Market breadth was decisively bearish, with a weak advance-decline ratio on BSE, where nearly six stocks declined for every one that advanced. The downturn was primarily driven by a sharp spike in Brent crude prices, touching a 14-month high of $82.40 per barrel, following reports of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Sector-w...