The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured another bouncy and overall negative trading session this Wednesday.
After yesterday's fall, the sellers were doubling down today, with the ASX 200 retreating by 0.13%, despite some time in green territory this afternoon. Today's drop leaves the index at 8,198.2 points.
This unhappy hump day for ASX shares follows a pretty awful night of trading over on Wall Street overnight (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was shunned, dropping 0.41%.
It was even worse for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which tumbled a nasty 1.53%.
Let's get back to the local markets now and take stock of what the various ASX sectors were up to today.
Winners and losers
We only had a few winners this Wednesday, with most ASX sectors going backwards.
Starting with the latter, consumer discretionary shares were our worst performers of the session. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) had a horrid time, plunging 1.73%.
Tech stocks had a shocker too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) tanking 1.58%.
Consumer staples shares did better. However, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) still sank 0.81%.
Industrial stocks also suffered from the market's bad mood, as evidenced by the 0.6% fall in the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ).
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were in the same ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) declined by 0.57%.
As were ASX communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) got a 0.56% downgrade today.
Healthcare stocks had a less-than-healthy day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) sliding 0.29%.
Last for the losers were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slipped 0.01%.
Turning to the winners now, energy shares led the charge. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had an amazing time, soaring 2.35%.
Utilities stocks counted themselves lucky as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.97% surge.
Mining shares got a reprieve. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) ended up banking a 0.49% gain.
Finally, gold stocks eked out a win, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) inching up 0.08%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Healthcare stock Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) was once again the star of the index. Sigma shares put on another 7.93% today up to $1.91 a share.
It seems that the potential merger with Chemist Warehouse continues to excite investors.
Here are the rest of the shares you wish you owned today:
ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) | $1.91 | 7.93% |
Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) | $1.64 | 7.54% |
Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) | $1.25 | 4.62% |
Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) | $1.49 | 3.13% |
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) | $25.91 | 3.10% |
Treasure Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) | $12.01 | 3.00% |
A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) | $6.41 | 2.89% |
Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT) | $19.20 | 2.67% |
Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $0.805 | 2.55% |
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) | $7.17 | 2.43% |
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.