Key benchmark indices were trading higher in early trade. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 103.27 points or 0.29% at 35,245.26. The Nifty 50 index was up 26.75 points or 0.25% at 10,603.05.

Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.23%. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.01%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 607 shares rose and 527 shares fell. A total of 59 shares were unchanged.

Overseas, Asian shares were mixed despite an improvement in market risk sentiment after 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%.

Back home, NHPC was down 3.32%. The company's board approved buyback of 21.42 crore shares, representing 2.09% equity capital of the company at Rs 28 per share. The company has set 30 November 2018 as record date for buyback. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 November 2018.

Grasim Industries was down 6.97%. 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.

Vodafone Idea was down 5.43%. The company reported consolidated net loss of Rs 4793.80 crore in Q2 September 2018 as compared with net loss of Rs 1106.60 crore in Q2 September 2017. Total income rose 4.29% to Rs 7920.90 crore. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 November 2018.

Oil India was up 0.62%. The company will consider and approve issuance of debt securities in domestic / overseas markets in its board meeting on 19 November 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 November 2018.

Alkem Laboratories was up 1.75%. The company said that USFDA had conducted an inspection at the company's Bioequivalence facility located at Taloja, Maharashtra from 8 November 2018 to 14 November 2018. At the end of the inspection, no Form 483 was issued. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 14 November 2018.