It was a shaky start to the trading week this Monday for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares. By the time the markets closed, the ASX 200 had wrapped up with a 0.36% loss. That leaves the index at 8,474.9 points.
This rough start to the trading week for ASX investors follows a nervous end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to eke out a small rise of 0.083%.
However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky, and fell 0.51%.
But let's return to this week and our local markets now with a look at how the various ASX sectors fared amid today's tough trading conditions.
Winners and losers
Gains were few and far between today. But more on those later.
Firstly, it was gold stocks that took the brunt of this Monday's selling. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) endured a 2.07% plunge this session.
Industrial shares were also punished, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) tanking 1.4%.
Mining stocks weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had cratered by a nasty 1.32% by the closing bell.
Consumer staples shares were no safe haven either, as you might gather from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.97% dive.
Its consumer discretionary counterpart offered no solace to investors. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) ended up dropping 0.62% today.
Tech shares were in the same ballpark, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) slumping 0.6%.
Healthcare stocks weren't spared. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lost 0.27% of its value this Monday.
Nor were real estate investment trusts (REITs), evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.25% retreat.
Our last losers were communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) inched 0.04% lower by the end of trading.
Turning to the winners now, it was financial stocks that held up the best, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) jumping 0.35% higher.
Energy shares were spared, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) enjoyed a 0.13% lift this session.
The only other sector that pulled off a win was utilities shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.03% uptick.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's index winner was energy stock Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA). Viva shares had a strong session, rising 4.35% to close at $2.16 a share.
This leap higher came despite no fresh news out of the company, although most ASX energy shares fared well this Monday.
Here's a look at the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) | $2.16 | 4.35% |
| Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) | $3.80 | 2.70% |
| Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) | $16.57 | 2.28% |
| BWP Trust (ASX: BWP) | $3.65 | 1.96% |
| Block Inc (ASX: XYZ) | $98.70 | 1.95% |
| TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) | $5.44 | 1.87% |
| West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) | $2.21 | 1.84% |
| News Corporation (ASX: NWS) | $50.75 | 1.66% |
| Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) | $43.40 | 1.62% |
| Amcor plc (ASX: AMC) | $14.07 | 1.52% |
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.
