Indian shares ended steady on Friday, skidding from a 7-month high hit earlier in the session, as gains in agriculture-related stocks and automakers were offset by a slump in Idea Cellular Ltd.

 

The broader NSE Nifty ended 0.02 percent higher at 8,220.80, but rose 0.76 percent this week to mark a second consecutive weekly gain. The benchmark BSE Sensex ended unchanged at 26,843.03.

 

Both indexes had earlier hit their highest levels since late October.

 

Shares of Idea ended 11 percent down after Providence Equity Partners sold a 3.5 percent stake in the wireless provider.

 

In the 50-share index, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Power, HUL and NTPC gained between 1.89 per cent and 3.42 per cent. On the other hand, Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel, Lupin, BHEL and Hero MotoCorp slid between 1.36 per cent and 11.23 per cent.