Australian markets continue punching higher into the green in 2022, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) up 5% in the last month.
Here's a quick overview of the top-performing ASX sectors during the last quarter. Below is charted the three-month returns of just about every sector index on the ASX.
Top-performing ASX sectors
Commodities and mining roared home last quarter as the S&P/ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) spiked 10% in that time.
The sector has been buoyant all year and took off again towards the end of the period, spurred on by further rallies in the commodities sector.
Unsurprisingly, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also headed north. This was in almost direct correlation with the metals and mining sector.
In a similar vein, consumer staples stocks were net winners in the previous quarter, seeing the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) land 3% in the green.
These three sectors strung up the wider market last quarter, with each of the other major corners of the market posting a loss.
Ranging from top to bottom, here are the best to worst performing sectors/industries over the three trading months until 1 April 2022:
| Sector / Industry | Quarterly return | Year-to-date return |
| S&P/ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) | 10.24% | 15.30% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) | 8.14% | 12.32% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) | 2.91% | 0.27% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) | 1.97% | 3.94% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) | 0.43% | 0.46% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) | -3.28% | -4.67% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) | -5.47% | -8.12% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) | -7.40% | -11.40% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) | -11.53% | -18% |
| S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) | -13.80% | -18.99% |
What a difference a quarter makes on the ASX
With mining, materials and now financials leading the way in returns since January, some might argue that it reflects the bigger macroeconomic picture at play.
Noteworthy is the tech and IT sectors, with both segments recently sliding hard off their all-time highs in 2022. Since the same time last year, the tech sector is down more than 19%, with the IT sector sliding a similar amount.
