BSE Sensex Today: Losses in energy, banking and auto shares dragged the markets lowerDomestic stock markets started Monday's session on a weak note, hut by losses in energy shares as crude oil prices spiked.

The S-P BSE Sensex index fell as much as 273.7 points - or 0.73 per cent to 37,111.29 in morning, and the broader NSE Nifty benchmark moved to as low as 10,988.80, down 87.1 points (0.79 per cent) from the previous close.

Losses in energy, banking and auto shares dragged the markets lower, however gains in information technology and pharmaceutical stocks limited the downside.

The government over the weekend announced measures aimed at pushing exports and affordable housing, including a Rs 10,000 crore special window for affordable housing to revive stalled projects.

Analysts awaited the release of wholesale inflation (Wholesale Price Index) data due during market hours for more clarity on the price changes and monetary policy going forward.On Friday, the Sensex and Nifty had ended 0.76 per cent and 0.85 per cent higher, clocking a gain of 1.09 per cent and 1.18 per cent respectively for the holiday-shortened week.J Kumar Infraprojects Flat After Winning Order For Mumbai Metro ProjectShares of J Kumar Infraprojects were trading 0.04 per cent higher at Rs 132 after the company informed exchanges that it won an order from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for Mumbai Metro Rail Project.J Kumar Infraprojects won orders worth Rs 342 crore for design and construction of elevated viaduct and two elevated stations namely Gaimukh of line four extension (Kasarvadavali to Gaimukh Corridor)of Mumbai Metro Rail Project of MMRDA.Crude Oil Price Clocks Biggest Percentage Gain Since 1991Oil prices soared on Monday, with Brent crude posting its biggest intraday percentage gain since the Gulf War in 1991, after an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities on Saturday shut about 5 per cent of global supply.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for crude oil, rose by as much as 19.5 per cent to $71.95 per barrel - the biggest intraday jump since January 14, 1991. Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter and the attack on state-owned producer Saudi Aramco's crude processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais has cut output by 5.7 million barrels per day.

(Read full story here)Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil, Asian Paints Top Percentage LosersTop Nifty GainersTop Nifty LosersTop Sensex GainersONGC: +2.29%Tech Mahindra: +0.80%TCS: +0.74%Hindustan Unilever: +0.73%Sun Pharma: +0.53%Top Sensex LaggardsAsian Paints: -2.31%Reliance Industries: -1.49%HDFC: -1.34%Tata Motors: -1.08%Maruti Suzuki:  -0.97%Share Markets Advance-decline Ratio NeutralMarket breadth was largely neutral with an advance-decline ratio of about 1:1.

On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 921 stocks moved higher while 801 traded in the negative zone in morning deals.

On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 804 shares advanced while 784 declined. Spike In Crude Oil Prices Seen Hurting Indian Companies"Last Saturday, after the drone attack on Saudi Aramco, global crude prices jumped almost 12 per cent, which is the biggest surge after 1988," said Ashish Nanda, EVP and business head-PCG, commodities and currency business, Kotak Securities."It would certainly impact emerging countries like India in the medium term as uncertainties keep the sentiment volatile."Energy stocks plunged dragged lower by state-run oil marketing companies, with the NSE's Nifty Energy sectoral index falling as much as 2.02 per cent. At 10:03 am, shares in oil companies Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil and Reliance Industries were down 6.45 per cent, 5.62 per cent, 3.23 per cent and 1.93 per cent respectively.The S-P BSE Energy and S-P BSE OIL - GAS indices fell as much as 2.55 per cent and 1.95 per cent in morning. Sensex Down Over 200 Points, Nifty Near 11,000At 9:25 am, the Sensex traded 209.31 points - or 0.56 per cent - lower at 37,175.68, while the Nifty was down 67.35 points - or 0.61 per cent - at 11,008.55. Top percentage laggards on the 50-scrip index at the time were Bharat Petroleum, Asian Paints, Indian Oil, Yes Bank and Reliance Industries, trading between 2.04 per cent and 4.21 per cent lower.

Reliance Industries, HDFC, Asian Paints and ICICI Bank were the top drags on the Sensex. Sensex, Nifty Open Sharply LowerThe S-P BSE Sensex index opened 180.43 points lower at 37,204.56, and the broader NSE Nifty benchmark started the session at 10,994.85, down 81.05 points from its previous close.Last week, the Sensex and Nifty had risen 1.09 per cent and 1.18 per cent to end at 37,384.99 and 11,075.90 respectively. Pre-Open Market: Sensex Down 180 Points, Nifty Below 11,000 The S-P BSE Sensex index fell as much as 180.43 points in the pre-opening session, while the broader NSE Nifty benchmark dropped 81.05 points to slip below the 11,000 mark.

At 9:13 am, the Nifty was down 81.05 points - or 0.73 per cent - at 10,994.85.Clear Signs Of Improvement In Industrial Production: Nirmala SitharamanSeparate official data last Thursday showed growth in industrial production was at 4.3 per cent in July, as against 2 per cent the previous month.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday that there have been clear signs of improvement in the industrial production. "In spite of all the worries that industrial production indicators showed in the fourth quarter of 2018-19 we see a clear sign of revival in the first quarter of 2019-20 and in July," she said, while announcing a slew of measures to boost exports as well as affordable housing.Wholesale Inflation Data To Be Released TodayThe government is due to release data on wholesale inflation at noon.

Separate official data last week showed consumer inflation stood at 3.21 per cent in August - the highest level recorded since October last year.

Consumer inflation data led to hopes of one more rate cut by the RBI in its upcoming bi-monthly review due in October.Government Measures To Help Revive: FICCIThe latest measures announced by the Finance Minister in the field of real estate and exports would help provide stimulus to the slowing economy, said Sandip Somany, president of industry body FICCI.

"These new measures will provide much-needed stimulus to boost the Indian economy that is now facing the slowdown," he said.A Rs 10,000-Crore Special Window To Drive Affordable HousingThe Finance Minister also announced a special window of Rs.

10,000 crore to boost affordable and middle-income housing.

The government will make funding available for "net worth positive" housing projects that are not in a bankruptcy process or classified as non-performing assets (NPAs), Nirmala Sitharaman said.The measures were announced as part of a third instalment of steps within three weeks to boost the economy, which grew at its slowest pace in six years in the first quarter of the current financial year. Government Announces Steps To Push Exports Over WeekendFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced a slew of measures aimed at boosting exports, including a new scheme to incentivise exporters and a higher insurance cover to banks lending for exports.

Announcing easier rules for lending to priority sectors, Nirmala Sitharaman said the measures could lead to export credit rising by Rs.

36,000 crore to Rs.

68,000 crore. SGX Nifty Indicates Sharply Lower Opening For Domestic Share MarketsDomestic stock markets are likely to start the session sharply lower, as indicated by the SGX Nifty futures trading on the Singapore Exchange.

At 8:54 am, the SGX Nifty traded 108.50 points - or 0.98 per cent - lower at 11,002.50.

Equities in other Asian markets were subdued, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.33 per cent while the Japan market was shut for a holiday.