Mumbai, Aug. 21 -- The domestic equity benchmarks ended almost flat on Friday as persistent geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran and elevated crude oil prices kept investors cautious. Brent crude hovered around $94 a barrel, while rising bond yields in developed markets continued to weigh on risk appetite and the appeal of emerging-market equities. Selective buying in heavyweight stocks helped limit the downside, with the Nifty settling above 24,250, supported by gains in metals and private bank shares. FMCG and auto stocks, however, remained under pressure. Technically, the Nifty is likely to find support in the 24,100-24,000 zone, while the 24,300-24,400 region remains the immediate resistance band.

The S&P BSE Sensex ended flat at 7...