It was a negative start to the trading week this Monday for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). After a horror end to the trading week last week, the ASX 200 has kept up this negative sentiment today. By market close, the index had shed a depressing 0.29%, putting it down to 7,078.7 points. The ASX 200 has now lost almost 4% since 20 June.
Let's hope the rest of the week gives us something better. But time now to check out the factors and ASX sectors that were driving today's selling pressure on the markets.
It was always going to be hard for the ASX to have a positive start to the week this week, given the events in Russia over the weekend and a weak showing on Wall Street last Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) ended up falling by 0.65% on Friday night's session, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) talked a nasty 1.01%.
We had a bit of a mixed bag when it came to the ASX 200 sectors today. The best performer by far was the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD), with gold shares, perhaps reflecting the geopolitical instability over the weekend, shooting up 1.79%.
ASX tech shares also managed a strong showing, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) bumping up 0.88%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) managed to join the green ink party, codified by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.04% move higher.
But that was it for the winners.
Today's losses were led by the healthcare space. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tanked by 0.58% this Monday.
Financials shares didn't do much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) dropping 0.5%.
The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was another major loser. This sector plunged 0.57%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Now that the sectors are out of the way let's check out the top performers of the ASX's Monday session. We have ASX gold share Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) as our ASX 200 winner for today.
This gold miner recorded a gain of 4.94%, perhaps thanks to an announcement that the company had reduced its hedge book. Investors can also probably thank the sharp lift in gold prices we've seen today.
Here is this Monday's other winning ASX 200 shares:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) | $4.25 | 4.94% |
| Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) | $3.76 | 4.74% |
| Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX: SLR) | $0.97 | 4.3% |
| Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) | $7.56 | 2.44% |
| Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU) | $1.695 | 2.42% |
| De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG) | $1.315 | 2.33% |
| Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC) | $14.69 | 2.08% |
| Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) | $12.55 | 2.03% |
| Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW) | $0.51 | 2% |
| West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) | $0.82 | 1.86% |
Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.
