Domestic shares ended with modest gains as recent weakness in crude oil prices kept investor sentiment upbeat. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 118.55 points or 0.34% to 35,260.54, as per the provisional closing data. The Nifty 50 index rose 40.40 points or 0.38% to 10,616.70, as per the provisional closing data. Mostly positive global shares also supported bourses.

Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.74%. The BSE Small-Cap index was flat at 14,548.04.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On BSE, 1089 shares rose and 1505 shares fell. A total of 141 shares were unchanged.

NTPC (down 2.29%), ONGC (down 1.15%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 1.09%), Hindustan Unilever (down 1.03%) and Coal India (down 0.98%), were the major Sensex losers.

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (up 4.21%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 2.72%), Hero MotoCorp (up 2.26%), Axis Bank (up 2%) and Vedanta (up 1.81%), were the major Sensex gainers.

Yes Bank lost 7.42%. The bank informed that Ashok Chawla, non-executive independent part-time chairman, has tendered his resignation from the Bank's Board, with immediate effect, mentioning that during the current transition period, the Bank would need a Chairman who could devote more time and attention. The bank shall in due course announce the appointment of a Chairman, post RBI's approval. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 November 2018.

Grasim Industries lost 7.94% after the company reported consolidated net loss of Rs 1299.86 crore in Q2 September 2018 as compared with net profit of Rs 799.03 crore in Q2 September 2017. Total income rose 23.34% to Rs 17096.47 crore. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 November 2018.

The standalone loss after tax (after exceptional item) was Rs 1187 crore after considering a onetime non-cash exceptional item of Rs 2003 crore. The consolidated loss after tax (after exceptional items) was Rs 1446 crore.

With the merger of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular, the company's shareholding in the merged entity, Vodafone Idea (VIL) now stands at 11.55%. Consequently, VIL ceased to be an ‘Associate' of the Company with effect from 31 August 2018. Accordingly, the share in profit after tax of VIL has not been consolidated with effect from 31 August 2018. The exceptional item of Rs 2003 crore represents the difference between book value and fair value of VIL as on 30 August 2018. This has been charged to the Profit and Loss Account, consequent to VIL ceasing to be an ‘Associate'.

Drug major Lupin rose 1.26% after the company announced it has received FDA approval for Decitabine for Injection, 50 mg/vial, Single-Dose Vial. The announcement was made during market hours today, 15 November 2018.

Lupin announced that it has received approval for its Decitabine for Injection, 50 mg/vial, Single-Dose Vial from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a generic version of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.'s (Otsuka) Dacogen for Injection, 50 mg/vial, Single-Dose Vial.

Lupin's Decitabine for Injection , 50 mg/vial, Single-Dose Vial is the generic version of Otsuka's Dacogen for Injection, 50 mg/vial, Single-Dose Vial. It is indicated for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) including previously treated and untreated, de novo and secondary MDS of all French-American-British subtypes (refractory anemia, refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation, and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) and intermediate-1, intermediate-2, and high-risk International Prognostic Scoring System groups. Decitabine for Injection, 50 mg/vial, Single-Dose Vial had annual sales of approximately $135.9 million in the US (IQVIA MAT September 2018).

In the global commodities markets, Brent for January 2019 settlement was up 36 cents at $66.48 a barrel. The contract rose 65 cents, or 0.99% to settle at $66.12 a barrel during the previous trading session.

India imports majority of its crude requirements and a decline in crude eases concerns on fiscal deficit, inflation and gives more room for the government to boost growth through spending on infrastructure.

Overseas, most European and Asian stock shares edged higher on Thursday as investors digest the latest news on Brexit. British Prime Minister Theresa May said she had obtained enough support for her proposed Brexit deal to move forward. The uncertainty surrounding a deal had earlier weighed on risk sentiment.

US stocks closed lower Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average logging its longest losing streak in three months, as blue-chip Apple Inc. flirted with bear-market territory.

Meanwhile, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday expressed confidence in US economic strength and said that markets will have to get used to the idea that the central bank could raise rates at any time starting in 2019.

On the US data front, the Labor Department said the consumer-price index rose by 0.3%, while core CPI, excluding volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2%.