It was a rough start to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Monday.
After last week's positive end to the trading week, investors seem to have come back from the weekend in a bit of a mood, with the ASX 200 getting a 0.24% walkback this session. That leaves the index at 8,414.1 points.
This unhappy start to the week's trading for Australian investors comes after a mixed end to the American week last Friday night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to eke out a rise, lifting 0.13%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky though, shrinking by 0.32%.
Let's return to this week and today's ASX session by taking stock of how the various ASX sectors handled today's trading conditions.
Winners and losers
As you might anticipate, we only saw a handful of sectors record a rise this Monday. But more on those in a moment.
Leading the red sectors again this session were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had another rough one, cratering 1.39% lower.
Utilities shares were also shunned. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) tanked 0.82% today.
Mining stocks weren't much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) plunging by 0.77%.
Tech shares improved on that markedly though, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.32% dip.
Right in front of that were consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) shrank by 0.31% today.
Healthcare shares came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) declining 0.22%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were in that ballpark too. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) ended up dropping 0.22%.
Our final losers today were financial stocks, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.01% slip.
Turning to the winners now, it was gold shares that were today's safe haven. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ran hot this Monday, leaping 0.85% higher.
Communications stocks weathered the storm as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifting 0.4%.
Industrial shares were another great place to hide out in. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) saw its value rise 0.18% today.
Finally, consumer staples shares managed to get out ahead, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.14% bump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Blowing out the competition on the index this Monday was Brickworks Ltd (ASX: BKW). Brickworks shares rocketed a massive 27.59% today to close at $35.10 each.
As we extensively documented this morning, this was a result of the company announcing that it intends to merge with today's silver medalist, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL). Both companies were bought up heavily as a result.
Here are the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Brickworks Ltd (ASX: BKW) | $35.10 | 27.59% |
| Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) | $43.00 | 16.44% |
| Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) | $5.79 | 4.51% |
| BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) | $23.75 | 4.40% |
| Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) | $1.93 | 3.21% |
| Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) | $9.12 | 3.05% |
| Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) | $5.20 | 2.77% |
| Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) | $34.84 | 2.68% |
| AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB) | $35.35 | 2.49% |
| Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) | $2.95 | 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.
