The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured one of its worst Mondays in years today. Amid the ongoing fallout from President Donald Trump's new tariffs, investors were expecting the worst this morning when the markets opened.
But the 6%-plus drop that the ASX 200 suffered at open would still have come as a shock. By the time trading mercifully closed this afternoon, investors had pulled back from the brink a little. Even so, they left the index at just 7,343.3 points, down a horrid 4.23% for the day.
This clanger of a Monday session for ASX shares comes after a disastrous end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a real shocker, crashing 5.5% lower.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was also smashed, losing 5.82% of its value in one go.
But let's get back to this week and our local markets now for an assessment of the damage done to the different ASX sectors today.
Winners and losers
As with Friday's session, there wasn't one sector that got out unbruised today.
The most bruised sector ended up being energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had another nightmare day, plunging another 6.95%.
Financial shares copped a severe write-down too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slumping 4.94%.
Mining stocks weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) crashed 4.84% lower this session.
Consumer discretionary shares weren't far behind that, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 4.8% dive.
Gold stocks were no safe haven either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had tanked 4.35% by the closing bell.
We could say the same for healthcare shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) cratering 4.14%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) had a tough day, too. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sunk 3.46% this Monday.
Industrial stocks were also sold off, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 2.55% tumble.
Tech shares copped a shellacking. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) lost a chunky 2.31% today.
Next, we had utilities stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) retreating 2.06%.
Even consumer staples shares weren't spared. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slid 1.89% lower by the time the markets closed.
Finally, communications stocks were our best sector this Monday. Not that you'd know it from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.93% dip.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out strong in the face of today's sell-off was financial stock Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF). Challenger shares rose by a confident 8.3% today to finish at a flat $6 a share.
This move came after the company announced that the Japanese insurer Dai-ichi Life Holdings has agreed to acquire a 15.1% stake in Challenger.
Here are the other shares that managed to make hay today:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) | $6.00 | 8.30% |
| Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) | $14.75 | 3.65% |
| AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) | $1.15 | 3.60% |
| Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) | $7.54 | 3.15% |
| WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) | $76.50 | 2.23% |
| ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX) | $64.69 | 1.92% |
| Car Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) | $31.26 | 1.03% |
| Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR) | $3.65 | 0.83% |
| Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) | $3.16 | 0.32% |
| Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) | $4.36 | 0.23% |
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.
