The BSE benchmark Sensex fell below the crucial 20,000-level in the early trade on Monday, driven by profit-booking and funds booked profits at current levels.

The 30-share barometer, which had lost over 561 points in the previous two trading sessions, was quoting lower by 150.53 points at 19,974.52 points in the opening trade.

Led by weakness in the auto, banking and consumer durables indices the bellwether Sensex suffered losses.

Similarly, the wide-based National stock Exchange index Nifty also moved down by 47.85 points to 6,014.80.

According to brokers, continued profit-booking at select index-related stocks by funds and retail investors, coupled with a weak to mixed trend in other Asian stock markets, also weighed on the trading sentiments here.

Meanwhile, the BSE and NSE have started 15-minute pre-open session on Monday which is expected to reduce the quantum of volatility.

In the Asian region, the Hong Kong’s hang Seng index was quoting down by 0.80 percent, while Japanese Nikkei was marginally 0.21 percent up in the morning trade on Monday.