MUMBAI: The benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex sank over 220 points to fall below the 26,000-level in early trade on Monday due to profit-booking by investors after recent gains amid mixed Asian cues.

The 30-share barometer plunged 220.24 points, or 0.84 percent, to 25,998.67 in early trade.

The index had risen by 512.98 points in the previous two sessions on rate cut hopes after the U.S. Fed decided to hold rates.

All the sectoral indices led by metal, banking and realty were trading in the negative zone, falling up to 1.01 percent.

Also, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty was trading lower by 54.45 points, or 0.68 percent, at 7,927.45 in early trade.

Apart from profit-booking in recent gainers, brokers said, a mixed trend at other Asian markets mainly pushed the indices down.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 1.40 percent while Shanghai Composite was quoting 0.53 percent higher in early trade. Financial markets in Japan are closed from Monday to Wednesday for a public holiday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.74 percent lower in Friday's trade.