It was a bullish Tuesday for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares over today's trading session.
After starting the week off on a shaky footing yesterday, the ASX 200 today shook off those concerns, rising a confident 1.01%. That leaves the index at 7,778.1 points.
Perhaps today's decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.35% helped give investors a spring in their steps.
This decisive session for ASX shares follows an equally bullish night of trading over on the American markets last night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: DJI) had a great start to the US trading week, galloping 0.49% higher.
It was even better for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which surged up 0.95%.
But let's get back to the local markets now and check out what the different ASX sectors were up to this Tuesday.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
It was all smiles on the ASX boards today, with not one sector recording a loss.
The worst place to be, if you can call it that, was in gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had a lacklustre day, inching 0.04% higher.
Broader mining stocks also had a fairly lacklustre session, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) crawling up 0.07%.
It was better for energy shares though. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rose 0.26% by the closing bell.
Tech stocks had a fine day as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.4% gain.
Communications shares were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) enjoyed a 0.69% lift.
The same could be said of real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was sent 0.72% higher by investors.
Consumer staples stocks had a day to remember, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.76% rise.
But its consumer discretionary counterpart did better again. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) surged 1.1%.
Healthcare shares were getting bought up with gusto too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) spiking 1.48%.
Coming in just ahead of that were industrial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) put on an impressive 1.49%.
Financial shares were also making their investors very happy. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) soared 1.63% higher by market close.
Our final winners were utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) took out today's crown, rocketing 2.36% higher.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out on top of the index this Tuesday was toll road stock Atlas Arteria (ASX: ALX).
Atlas shares rose by a strong 5.11% today up to $4.94 each. That was despite no fresh news or announcements out from the company this week.
Here's a look at the rest of today's winning shares:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Atlas Arteria (ASX: ALX) | $4.94 | 5.11% |
| Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) | $1.265 | 4.55% |
| Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) | $3.26 | 3.82% |
| NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) | $3.03 | 3.77% |
| ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) | $14.55 | 3.56% |
| Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) | $10.41 | 3.48% |
| Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) | $2.43 | 3.40% |
| Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) | $13.70 | 3.16% |
| JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) | $64.51 | 3.03% |
| Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) | $5.57 | 2.96% |
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.
