Indian shares largely flat

Indian shares were largely flat on Tuesday as gains in financial and auto stocks offset losses in the technology sector, while investors awaited key earnings reports due later in the week.

Tata Communications and Ambuja Cements are among the companies scheduled to report results later in the week.

The broader NSE index, which rose as much as 0.32 per cent, pared some gains to trade up 0.07 per cent at 8,631.85 as of 0545 GMT.

The benchmark BSE index was down 0.03 per cent at 27,921.42.

The Nifty Auto index was up 0.25 per cent, with Eicher Motors being the top percentage gainer after it reported a 33 per cent rise in October total motorcycle sales.

Shares of Bharti Infratel rose as much as 3.14 per cent.

The Nifty IT index was down 0.59 per cent, heading for a sixth straight session of losses. The index fell 2.4 per cent in October.

The market is also watching global cues, with the US Federal Reserve`s meeting set to begin on Tuesday, which could provide clues on a December rate hike.

The Bank of Japan on Tuesday held off on expanding stimulus and maintained short-term interest rate target, while the Reserve Bank of Australia kept the rates unchanged at 1.5 per cent, according to a news agency report.