Indian shares down

Indian shares fell for a second straight session on Tuesday as caution set in ahead of quarterly gross domestic product data due later in the day, which will show the extent of the impact on the economy from a ban on high-value currency. The broader NSE index ended 0.19 percent lower at 8,879.6, while the benchmark BSE index was down 0.24 percent at 28,743.32.
However, for the month, the NSE index rose 3.72 percent and the BSE index advanced 3.93 percent, their second consecutive monthly gains. The NSE Bank index was almost unchanged after snapping six consecutive sessions of gains in the previous session. Bank of India Ltd climbed 2.3 percent, while Punjab National Bank rose 1.3 percent. Shares of Bharti Airtel Ltd rose as much as 4.9 percent after the country's largest telecoms network operator said on Monday it would scrap national roaming charges from April 1. Meanwhile, Idea Cellular Ltd declined as much as 4.8 percent after Providence Equity Partners sold its 3.3 percent stake in the company.