Mumbai, Aug 17 - Thanks to weak global cues and continued profit selling, a key index of the Indian equities markets Monday shed 637 points to close below the 15,000-mark.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened lower at 15,284.23 points, ended at 14,774.01 points (provisional), down 637.62 points or 4.14 percent.

The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed in the red, losing 4.2 percent from its previous closing figure to end at 4,387.8 points.

Broader market indices closed in the negative terrain, with the BSE midcap index ending 3.77 percent down, while the the BSE smallcap index closed 3.03 percent.

Other Asian markets shut shop in the red as well, while European markets were ruling negative.