The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started the trading week off on the wrong foot, giving investors a loss for today's Monday session.
By the market's closing bell, the ASX 200 had slumped by 0.4%, which leaves the index at 6,948.8 points. This Garfied-esqe start to the trading week came despite a strong finish to the American trading week last Friday night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a rocketing time, galloping 1.15% higher. The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) had an even stronger finish, soaring 2.05%.
But back to the local markets, and Monday now. Let's dive in to see where the damage was coming from today with a look at the various ASX sectors.
Winners and losers
It was a tough day across the board this Monday, with only one sector eking out a gain. But let's get the avalanche of bad news out of the way first.
The sector that suffered the largest falls was the gold sector. ASX gold stocks had a terrible day, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanking by 1.34%.
Also on the nose were ASX energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) continued its recent run of bad luck and closed 0.88% lower.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't too far off that. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) fell by 0.59%.
Financial shares suffered a loss as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ended up dropping 0.52% from where it started.
ASX consumer discretionary shares are next. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) went backwards by 0.45% this Monday.
Healthcare stocks were another space that had a day to forget. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) retreated by 0.39%
Communications shares followed closely behind healthcare. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) gave up a positive start to end the day down 0.35%.
Mining shares weren't coming to the rescue, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) going backwards by 0.29%.
Tech stocks were another sore spot. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) slid backwards by 0.26%.
Investors weren't exactly flooding into consumer staples stocks either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was ground down by 0.17% at market close.
Let's now talk about the one sector that netted a gain today – utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) wrangled out a gain, albeit a mild one, with its rise of 0.34%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Agricultural stock Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) raced ahead to claim the top ASX spot on the index this Monday.
Elders shares ended up rocketing a whopping 18.28% higher after the company released an evidently pleasing set of results for its 2023 financial year.
Here's a look at the top ten best shares to own this Monday:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) | $7.31 | 18.28% |
| Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) | $4.93 | 5.12% |
| Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) | $135.83 | 3.2% |
| AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB) | $28.71 | 3.01% |
| NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF) | $7.47 | 2.47% |
| Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) | $1.23 | 2.07% |
| Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) | $42.88 | 1.83% |
| CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) | $29.50 | 1.72% |
| National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) | $28.90 | 1.55% |
| Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) | $8.78 | 1.5% |
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.
