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.
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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.
