It was another rosy day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Wednesday, although investors pulled back from a big jump at market open this morning by the closing bell.
By the time trading wrapped up this hump day, the ASX 200 had received a 0.12% bump from investors. That leaves the index at 7,934.5 points.
This tentatively positive session for the ASX comes after a mixed session over on Wall Street this morning.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't quite pull off a win, closing 0.028% lower.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) had a much better time though, shooting up 0.87%.
Let's get back to the Australian market now and see how today's market gains filtered down into the various ASX sectors.
Winners and losers
Despite the market gains this Wednesday, we still had a few sectors that were walked back.
Leading those losers were gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was left out in the cold today, plunging by 1.66%.
Broader mining shares didn't fare much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) diving 1.61%.
Nor did energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had sunk 1.29% lower by the closing bell.
Consumer staples shares had a rough session too, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.97% drop.
Utilities stocks also missed out. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slid down 0.09% today.
Our final losers were industrial shares, if barely, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) suffering a 0.01% slip.
Turning to the winners now, the best place to have been invested today was again in real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) powered ahead of the pack with a 1.61% rise.
Communications stocks also ran hot, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.8% surge.
Financial shares were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) soared 0.72% higher by the close of trade.
Healthcare stocks had a nice time this hump day as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifting 0.69%.
Just behind healthcare stocks were consumer discretionary shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) bounced up 0.68% this session.
Finally, tech stocks had a decent time of it too, as you'll see by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.65% jump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best share was gaming stock Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW). Light & Wonder shares rocketed 6.06% to close at a flat $148 each.
This move came despite no obvious catalysts, news, or announcements from the company. Perhaps yesterday's broker love was at play.
Here is the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) | $148.00 | 6.06% |
| Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) | $10.21 | 4.29% |
| Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) | $17.32 | 3.22% |
| Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) | $30.12 | 3.19% |
| NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) | $11.80 | 2.97% |
| Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) | $1.39 | 2.59% |
| LendLease Group (ASX: LLC) | $6.13 | 2.51% |
| Atlas Arteria (ASX: ALX) | $4.93 | 2.49% |
| Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) | $25.50 | 2.45% |
| Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) | $4.60 | 2.22% |
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.
