It was a surprisingly flat Thursday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and ASX shares this session. After taking a rather big dive of 0.6% by the afternoon, investors staged a dramatic recovery by the closing bell, leaving the ASX 200 down just 0.022% at 8,595.8 points.
This nervous Thursday session for the ASX follows a similar session on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't quite stick the landing, slipping 0.024%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared far better, though, surging 0.94% higher.
But let's get back to the local markets and take stock of how the various ASX sectors fared amid today's trading conditions.
Winners and losers
Today's red sectors were led by communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) had a shocker, plunging 1.47%.
Financial stocks had a rough one too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) diving 1.27%.
Consumer discretionary shares were out of favour as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) tanked 1.08% today.
Utilities stocks also joined the losers, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.62% drop.
Next up, consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was sent 0.46% lower this Thursday.
Tech stocks saw selling too, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.28% loss.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) didn't escape the pessimism either, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) retreating 0.24%.
Industrial stocks were our final losers. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was sent home 0.15% lighter.
Turning to the winners now, it was mining shares that were the stars of today's show, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 3.02% gallop higher.
Energy stocks also enjoyed a strong, albeit more muted, showing. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) ended up rising 0.83%.
Healthcare shares were in a similar ballpark, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) gaining 0.6%.
Finally, gold stocks were something of a safe haven today, illustrated by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 0.13% lift.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best share was lithium stock Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS). Pilbara shares rocketed a hefty 11.31% higher this Thursday to close at $1.53 a share. There wasn't any company-specific news out of Pilbara itself, but most lithium stocks had a spectacular day.
Here's the rest of today's winners:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) | $1.53 | 11.31% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $6.07 | 8.20% |
| Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: AMP) | $307.39 | 7.78% |
| Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) | $24.44 | 7.76% |
| HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC) | $4.35 | 6.62% |
| New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) | $4.08 | 6.53% |
| BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) | $39.27 | 5.56% |
| Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) | $4.51 | 5.37% |
| Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $0.74 | 5.00% |
| Helia Group Ltd (ASX: HLI) | $4.51 | 4.64% |
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.
