The consumer staples sector was the best of only two ASX 200 sectors to finish in the green last week.
Consumer staples lifted by 0.08%, and materials shares rose by 0.01% over the five trading days.
Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 0.99% to finish the week at 8,296 points.
Technology dragged the index down, with the sector falling by a hefty 5.73% after weeks of big gains.
Historically, December is usually a strong month for shares, but this has not been the case in 2024 so far.
The month started well, with the ASX 200 resetting its record high on 3 December at 8,514.5 points.
The benchmark has since fallen 2.34%.
Overall, the ASX 200 has dipped by 1.66% in December so far after a very strong 3.38% gain in November.
A surprisingly strong labour report released on Thursday contributed to the market's poor performance last week. The unemployment rate fell in November, stoking fears of sticky inflation and delayed interest rate cuts.
Let's review what happened last week.
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Consumer staple shares led the ASX sectors last week
First to the ASX supermarket shares.
The sector's largest stock, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), gained 0.46% to finish at $30.42 per share on Friday.
The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price lost 1.37% to close at $18.70.
IGA network owner Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) tumbled 3.73% to close at $3.23 per share.
Among the ASX 200 wine shares, Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) lifted 1.78% to $11.74.
Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares fell 1.05% to $4.26.
A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) fell 1.64% to $5.71 last week.
Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX: SM1) shares were steady at 37 cents by the close on Friday.
ASX 200 agricultural share Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) fell 3.25% to finish the week at $7.44.
The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price rose by 0.6% to $7.56.
Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) lifted 1.61% to $3.16 per share.
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) rose by 0.95% to $5.30 per share.
Stock feed producer Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) declined 3.27% to $2.66 per share.
Cobram Estate Olives Ltd (ASX: CBO) shares fell 0.5% to $2 apiece.
The Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) share price rose 0.36% to $1.39.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.
Over the five trading days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change last week |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | 0.08% |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | 0.01% |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | (0.35%) |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (0.72%) |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (1.52%) |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | (1.76%) |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | (1.78%) |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | (1.98%) |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | (2.03%) |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | (2.14%) |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (5.73%) |
