The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured yet another negative session today, which is fast setting the tone for this investing week. By the close of trading on Tuesday, the ASX 200 had closed down 0.2% at 7,283.8 points, now down 0.3% from where it finished last week.
Unlike yesterday, today's performance was entirely negative, with the index spending the whole day in red territory.
This comes despite a decisively positive night of trading up on Wall Street last night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed a solid rise of 0.22% in last night's trading. The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) took it up a notch with its lift of 0.93%.
Let us now return to the ASX with a look at which ASX sectors were behind today's misery on the markets.
Winners and losers
As one might expect from this session's overall loss, it wasn't a pretty picture for most ASX sectors today.
ASX healthcare shares were the best place to be, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) rising by a healthy 0.93%.
The only two other bright spots on the markets this Tuesday were ASX financials shares and utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) rose by 0.83%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) was up by 0.36%.
But it's all downhill from here.
Today's losses were led by real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/SX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sliding by a depressing 1.43%.
Industrials shares, one of the best-performing sectors during yesterday's trading, didn't fare much better. Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended up wiping out a nasty 1.18% of its value.
Another sore spot was the consumer discretionary sector. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) ended up retreating by 0.92%. As did communications shares, illustrated by the 1.26% fall in the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ).
Mining and energy shares weren't rising to anyone's rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) recorded losses of 0.63% and 0.84% respectively.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Our top stock of the day today goes to mining contractor NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH). NRW shares rose by a rosy 5.1%, despite no fresh news from the company today.
Here are the other shares that were the best to have owned today:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) | $2.68 | 5.1% |
| Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) | $113.70 | 2.9% |
| Netwalth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) | $14.26 | 2% |
| AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) | $11.80 | 2.79% |
| Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) | $7.90 | 2.33% |
| CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) | $264.57 | 2.22% |
| National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) | $27.67 | 2.03% |
| Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) | $5.80 | 1.75% |
| Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) | $3.53 | 1.73% |
| ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) | $24.95 | 1.67% |
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.
