Updates for market open
June 13 (Reuters) - Indian equities fell at the open on Friday, tracking declines in Asian markets, after Israel launched military strikes on Iran, escalating tensions in the oil-rich Middle East.
The Nifty 50 .NSEI was down 1.67% at 24,473 and the BSE Sensex .BSESN slid 1.55% to 80,427.81, as of 9:15 a.m. IST.
All 13 sectors logged losses. The broader, more domestically focussed smallcaps .NIFSMCP100 and midcaps .NIFMDCP100 shed 2% each.
The MSCI Asia ex-Japan index .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 1.1%, while safe havens like gold and the Swiss franc gained and oil prices <LCOc1> surged 9% amid fears of a supply disruption. MKTS/GLOB O/R
Israel said it struck Iranian nuclear targets to block Tehran from developing atomic weapons. The U.S. has ruled out any involvement in the strikes against Iran.
($1 = 85.5530 Indian rupees)
(Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
((bharath.rajeswaran@thomsonreuters.com; +91 9769003463;))

