Stock market news, May 1 -- Benchmark stock indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, finished almost 1% lower on Thursday as rising crude oil prices, weak global trends, and foreign fund withdrawals weighed on investor confidence.

The 30-share BSE Sensex fell by 582.86 points or 0.75%, closing at 76,913.50. At one point during the day, it dropped by 1,237.5 points, or 1.59%, to 76,258.86, but it regained some ground in the latter part of the session.

The Nifty 50 decreased by 180.10 points, or 0.74%, to close at 23,997.55.

The stock and forex markets are closed today (Friday, 1 May) on account of Maharashtra Day.

For the past couple of weeks, the index has been consolidating between the 23,600 and 24, 600 levels, representing a short-term pause ...