Indian shares muted ahead of crucial RBI policy decision

Indian shares ended flat on Thursday as escalating US-Iran hostilities and conflicting truce signals kept investors cautious ahead of a high-stakes central bank meeting, with war-fuelled inflation risks high on policymakers' minds, reports Reuters.
The benchmark Nifty 50 ended up 0.05 per cent at 23,416.55, while the BSE Sensex gained 0.02 per cent to 74,360.01.
The indexes have lost 2.6 per cent and 2.8 per cent, respectively, over seven sessions.
The Reserve Bank of India is forecast to hold its key rate at 5.25 per cent on Friday, according to a Reuters poll, though most economists expect a hike by year-end, as inflation and heavy foreign outflows pressure the economy and the rupee.