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.
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.
