Stock Market Close: Sensex Falls 703 Pts, Nifty At 23,843

Indian equity markets closed lower on Monday, with Sensex falling 703 points and Nifty ending at 23,843. Defence stocks provided some support as broader markets declined moderately. HDFC Life, ICICI Bank, and Adani Enterprises led gainers. Auto, oil and gas sectors underperformed, while IT and FMCG remained weak amid geopolitical concerns in West Asia.