The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a difficult Tuesday session today, falling back to earth after yesterday's euphoric start to the trading week.
By the closing bell, the ASX 200 had shed 0.31% of its value, leaving the index at 7,737.1 points.
This sobering Tuesday for the Australian stock market follows a mixed start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a negative mood, losing 0.3% in overnight trading.
Things were much better for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which rose by a confident 0.56%.
But let's return to the local markets now and have a look at how today's miserly mood affected the various ASX sectors.
Winners and losers
As one might expect, there were far more losers than winners this Tuesday.
Chief amongst those losers were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had a terrible time, tanking 1.62%.
Mining shares were also sold off heavily, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s drop of 0.89%.
Tech stocks had a rough day as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) tanked by 0.7%.
Utilities shares fared a little better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) still retreated 0.4%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were another sore spot. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) ended up shedding 0.38% of its value.
ASX industrial stocks performed similarly, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.31%.
Consumer discretionary shares were shunned too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) went backwards by 0.27%.
Communications stocks also found themselves on the losers list, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) sliding 0.13% lower.
Healthcare shares were our last losers. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) had slipped 0.09% by the closing bell.
Turning now to the winners, the best place to have been invested in today was gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) bucked the market with its surge of 0.7%.
Financial shares also rode out the storm, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.23% bounce.
Consumer staples stocks were our last lucky sector. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) managed to pull off a rise of 0.19%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best share turned out to be agricultural stock Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC).
Graincorp shares managed to eke out a 4.85% rise up to $8.87 a share. That was despite no real news or announements out of the company today.
Here's how the rest of today's best shares pulled up:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) | $8.87 | 4.85% |
| Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) | $0.485 | 4.30% |
| Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR) | $3.46 | 3.90% |
| Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) | $48.47 | 3.13% |
| Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) | $2.39 | 3.02% |
| Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN) | $1.205 | 2.99% |
| Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) | $27.92 | 2.42% |
| De Grey Mining Ltd (ASX: DEG) | $1.12 | 2.28% |
| Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) | $15.46 | 1.84% |
| Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) | $6.17 | 1.15% |
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.
