New Delhi, May 4 -- The Indian equity benchmarks concluded the final session of April on a weak note, with Nifty 50 retreating 0.74% to close at 23,997.55. The Sensex mirrored this decline, dropping 0.75% (582 points) to finish at 76,913.50. Heightened volatility was the hallmark of the day as investors grappled with escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia and a sharp spike in Brent crude prices toward $125 per barrel.

Sectoral performance remained predominantly bearish. The Nifty Metal and PSU Bank indices faced the most significant selling pressure, while the Nifty IT managed a modest green finish, acting as a partial defensive hedge. Market breadth signaled caution as the advance-decline ratio favoured the bears, with nearly 1,9...