After the carnage of last week, ASX investors have enjoyed a starkly different beginning to this trading week. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a fantastic day this Monday, gaining a confident 1.08%. That drags the ASX 200 back above the 7,600-point mark to 7,649.2 points.
This happy start to the week's trading comes despite an awful finish for the US markets last Friday night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) actually did okay, rising 0.56%.
But the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) more than made up for that rise with a horrid plunge of 2.05%.
Let's get back to the local markets though, and take a look at what the various ASX sectors were up to this Monday.
Winners and losers
It won't come as a shock to most readers when I say that there were far more winners than losers today.
But losers there still were, and these were led by gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had a shocker today, retreating by a hefty 1.53%.
The only other losing sector this Monday was energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) did only slightly better than gold, falling by 1.51%.
But that was it for the red corners of the market.
Turning to the green ones, it was healthcare shares that came out on top. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was on fire today and rocketed up 1.97%.
Communications shares were also running hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) surged by a happy 1.73% today.
Then we had tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was in demand too, soaring 1.52%.
Next up were industrial shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) flew 1.51% higher by the closing bell.
Consumer staples shares were delighting investors as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 1.49% gain.
Consumer discretionary stocks had a great day too, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 1.12% upgrade.
Miners weren't left out. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) enjoyed a 1.07% boost from today's trading.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were also at today's ASX party, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 1.02% bump.
Financial stocks had a pleasing time on the markets today. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) managed a lift of 0.97%.
Our final winners were utilities shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) rising 0.96%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's winner was none other than diversified mining stock South32 Ltd (ASX: S32). South32 shares had a fantastic day, roaring 5.64% higher to $3.37 a share.
This jump was a consequence of South32 releasing its latest quarterly report, which investors seemed to dig.
Here's a look at the rest of today's top stocks:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) | $3.37 | 5.64% |
| Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) | $25.00 | 5.35% |
| IRESS Ltd (ASX: IRE) | $8.10 | 5.19% |
| Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) | $30.84 | 5.01% |
| Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) | $10.87 | 4.62% |
| Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) | $19.69 | 4.57% |
| Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND) | $13.72 | 4.18% |
| Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) | $0.885 | 4.12% |
| Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) | $2.81 | 4.07% |
| Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX: CCP) | $16.75 | 3.97% |
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.
