MUMBAI: The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged over 313 points today to settle at 27,643.88 and the Nifty dived below the crucial 8,400 mark due to widespread profit-booking after recent gains amid lower-than-expected earnings numbers from ITC.

Renewed fears about an earlier-than-expected US rate hike weighed on sentiment too, brokers said.

The 30-share BSE index resumed on a shaky wicket and continued to decline to hit a low of 27,614.32 as selling intensified before settling at 27,643.88, down 313.62 points, or 1.12 per cent.

The gauge had gained 148.15 points in the previous session on Friday.

Of the 30-share Sensex pack, 26 ended lower while ONGC, Bharti Airtel, Wipro and M&M advanced.

The 50-issue Nifty slipped below 8,400 level by falling 88.70 points, or 1.05 per cent, to close at 8,370.25.

Intraday, it shuttled between 8,364.15 and 8,441.95.

Investors who had been accumulating stocks in the past few sessions on hopes of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India were seen trimming positions after earnings numbers from some blue-chips failed to meet expectations of the Street.

Shares of diversified group ITC fell 3.29 per cent after its March quarter earnings did not cheer investors.

ITC on Friday reported a modest 3.65 per cent rise in standalone net profit at 2,361.18 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2015.