New Delhi: Equity benchmark indices declined in early trade on Wednesday amid retail inflation soaring to a 14-month high of 6.21 percent in October and unabated foreign fund outflows.

Muted quarterly earnings and weak trends in global markets were also the spoilsport for the markets, traders said.

The BSE benchmark Sensex declined 239.69 points to 78,435.49 in early trade. The NSE Nifty went down 103.15 points to 23,780.30.

From the 30-share Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, Nestle, and ITC were the biggest laggards.

Retail inflation breached the Reserve Bank's upper tolerance level, soaring to a 14-month high of 6.21 percent in October mainly on account of rising food prices.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,024.31 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.35 percent to USD 72.14 a barrel. The BSE benchmark tumbled 820.97 points or 1.03 percent to settle at 78,675.18 on Tuesday. The Nifty tanked 257.85 points or 1.07 percent to 23,883.45.

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