This Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares had a less-than-pleasant start to the month of October.
After a strong start to the week yesterday, the ASX 200 took a decisive backward step this session, losing a chunky 0.74% of its value. That leaves the index at 8,208.9 points.
This miserly session for ASX shares comes after a better night up on Wall Street last night for American investors.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was feeling nervous and only advanced 0.041%.
But things were more optimistic on the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which bounced 0.38% higher,
Let's return to ASX shares though, and check out how the different ASX sectors fared during today's trading.
Winners and losers
Despite today's falls, quite a few sectors managed to grow in value. But more on those soon.
Starting with the losers, mining shares led the selling. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had a clanger, tanking by 2.28%.
Financial stocks also had a rough trot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) cratering by 1.19%.
Gold shares weren't much of a safe haven either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) plunged 1.09%.
ASX industrial stocks also copped some flack, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.57% drop.
Energy shares weren't riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) retreated by 0.14% today.
Our final losers were consumer discretionary stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) slipping 0.1%.
Turning to the winners now, it was fittingly healthcare shares that were running hottest. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) soared by 1.13% today.
Utilities stocks also had a great day, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.92% launch higher.
The same could be said of communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) managed to climb 0.72%.
Tech stocks saw their value rise too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) leaping up 0.44%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were in demand as well. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) got a 0.2% lift.
Finally, consumer staples shares eked out a win, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.14% uptick.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Healthcare stock Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) led today's winners. Sigma shares rocketed a massive 22.57% this Tuesday up to $1.77 a share.
This spike came after Sigma released some ASX news that informed investors that its merger with Chemist Warehouse is progressing.
Here's a look at the rest of today's best index performers:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) | $1.77 | 22.57% |
| REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) | $210.80 | 4.88% |
| Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) | $1.44 | 4.73% |
| Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU) | $2.76 | 4.15% |
| Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) | $3.42 | 3.95% |
| Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) | $291.42 | 3.31% |
| Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) | $1.78 | 3.19% |
| Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX: CCP) | $16.00 | 3.03% |
| Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) | $7.54 | 3.01% |
| Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) | $34.96 | 2.40% |
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.
