Domestic equity markets came under strong selling pressure on Friday, weighed down by a surge in crude oil prices and heavy losses in IT stocks, with benchmark indices ending sharply lower. The Nifty 50 index closed at 23,897.95, declining by 275.10 points or 1.14 per cent, while the BSE Sensex fell by 982.71 points or 1.27 per cent to settle at 76,681.29.