Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty50 opened lower on Monday, tracking weakness in Asian peers, as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following U.S. airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

The BSE Sensex was trading 800 points, or 0.97%, lower at 81,608, while the Nifty50 slipped 203 points, or 0.81%, to 24,909 around 9:29 am.

The market capitalisation of all listed companies on the BSE declined by nearly Rs 2 lakh crore to Rs 44.75 lakh crore in early trade.

Sector-wise, Nifty IT fell over 1% amid concerns over continued weakness in global tech spending, after Accenture reported its third consecutive year-on-year decline in outsourcing orders. Nifty Bank, Financial Services, Auto, FMCG, and Consumer Durables also opened 0.5% to 1% lower.