The BSE Sensex slipped 344 points on Monday, reflecting profit-booking by investors and continued foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows. Market analysts attribute the decline to cautious sentiment ahead of upcoming corporate earnings, global cues, and concerns over macroeconomic indicators. Mid-cap and banking stocks were particularly affected, while IT and FMCG segments showed relative resilience. Despite the intraday volatility, overall market breadth remained mixed, with selective buying in defensive sectors.