It turned out to be a shaky, but still positive, start to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most shares this Monday.
By the close of trading today, the ASX 200 had advanced 0.089% higher to finish up at 7,665.1 points.
This tentative beginning to this week's ASX trading comes after a negative wrap-up for the US markets last week.
Friday night (our time) saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) lose 0.37% of its value.
The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling by 0.82%.
But let's return to the local markets and check out how the different ASX sectors dealt with today's indecisive showing from the share market.
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Winners and losers
It was a bit of a mixed bag this Monday.
Leading the pessimists were the real estate investment trusts (REIT) sector. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) had a shocker, tanking by 2.27% at the closing bell.
Tech stocks were also on the nose, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s loss of 1.09%.
Another loser was the healthcare space. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was another sore point for investors, retreating by 1.03%.
ASX energy stocks got a belting too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) sank 0.6% this Monday.
Gold shares didn't prove to be a safe haven either, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) sliding 0.34%.
Our final loser was utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) closed 0.29% lower today.
Turning now to the winners, and the best place to be invested today was in communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) had a very pleasant day indeed, rising by 0.74%.
The same could be said of financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) enjoyed a surge worth 0.73%.
Mining shares were in demand as well, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s gain of 0.5%.
Consumer discretionary stocks were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) adding 0.42%.
Industrials shares are next, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s lift of 0.36%.
Consumer staples stocks didn't miss out either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was propelled 0.15% higher by market close.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
This Monday's winner came in as lithium stock Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA). Sayona shares rocketed by a whopping 16.36% today up to 6.4 cents each.
There's been no news out of the company for a few days now, but Sayona's continuing presence on the ASX's most shorted shares list might be causing a squeeze here.
Here's how the remaining top performers landed as we go into the weekend:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) | $0.064 | 16.36% |
| A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) |
$5.68 | 12.48% |
| Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $1.26 | 7.23% |
| Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) | $4.70 | 6.58% |
| Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) | $20.74 | 4.85% |
| Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) | $6.12 | 4.62% |
| Arcadium Lithium plc (ASX: LTM) | $7.42 | 3.92% |
| QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) | $16.71 | 3.72% |
| Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) | $13.80 | 3.68% |
| Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) | $11.37 | 3.27% |
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.
