The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a pretty horrible day this Thursday, taking a decisive step backwards with a hefty loss.
By the time the markets closed, the ASX 200 had sunk 0.33%, leaving the index at 8,045.1 points.
This depressing Thursday for the ASX follows a similarly dour night of trading over on the US markets overnight.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) trod a similar path to the ASX, falling 0.39%.
But tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was slammed, tanking 1.12%.
Let's get back to the ASX shares now though, with a checkup of what was going on amongst the different ASX sectors this session.
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Winners and losers
As you might expect, we had far more red sectors than green ones this Thursday.
Energy shares again led those red sectors. Investors punished the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ), crashing 2.15%.
Consumer discretionary stocks were also shunned, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) cratering by 1.95%.
Its consumer staples counterpart was next. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) tanked 1.14%.
Gold stocks were right behind that, as you'll see from the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s loss of 1.13%.
Utilities shares didn't escape unscathed either. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) declined by 1.04%.
Mining stocks weren't in form, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) shedding 0.67%.
ASX communications shares did considerably better, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) dipped by 0.1%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and healthcare stocks were our final losers, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) both slipping 0.05%.
Turning now to the green sectors, it was financial shares leading the charge today. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) galloped 0.32% higher.
Industrial stocks also put on a decent show, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) lifting 0.28%.
Finally, tech shares managed a win. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) inched 0.07% higher this Thursday.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out on top this session was consumer staples stock Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA). Bega shares shot up 9.39% to $4.66 today.
This jump came after the company reported its full-year earnings, which seemed to delight investors.
Here are the remaining winners of the day:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) | $4.66 | 9.39% |
| Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) | $2.20 | 4.27% |
| Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK) | $3.42 | 3.32% |
| IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) | $16.00 | 3.09% |
| Amotiv Ltd (ASX: AOV) | $10.40 | 2.67% |
| Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) | $20.47 | 2.09% |
| Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) | $3.38 | 1.81% |
| Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) | $6.12 | 1.66% |
| Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) | $44.56 | 1.53% |
| West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) | $1.415 | 1.43% |
Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.
