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.
Image source: Getty Images
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.
