Mumbai, April 30 -- The domestic equity party took a breather today, ending just a whisker below the flatline. Snapping its two-day winning streak, the Nifty closed just shy of the 24,350 mark-as investors kept one eye on the charts and the other on rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan.

Adding to the cautious mood was Bajaj Finance, which dropped a bit of a buzzkill with its conservative corporate guidance. The cautious tone spilled over into the broader markets, putting particular pressure on mid- and small-cap counters.

Realty and pharma stocks flexed some muscle, while energy and banking stocks decided to sit this one out. The trading action was tight, with the index moving in a narrow band, typical of a weekly exp...