The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a tough start to the week's trading this Monday, clearly returning from the weekend a little worse for wear.
By the time the markets closed today, the ASX 200 had dropped a chunky 0.51%. That leaves the index at 8,927.7 points.
This unhappy start to the week's trading for Australian investors follows a similarly negative end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a volatile session and ended up falling 0.2%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, diving a nasty 1.15%.
But let's return to this week and our local markets now for a checkup on how the different ASX sectors handled today's poor trading conditions.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
Despite the market's falls, we still saw a number of sectors increase in value. But more on those in a moment.
Firstly, it was tech shares that were punished most severely this Monday. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) ended up plunging 2.65% lower by the end of trading.
Consumer discretionary stocks were abandoned as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) tanking 1.24%.
Financial shares weren't finding many buyers either. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) saw its value crater by 0.75% today.
Industrial stocks weren't much better, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.63% dive.
Healthcare shares had another poor showing, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) took a 0.53% hit by the close of the markets.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also found themselves on the wrong side of the ledger, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) dipping 0.23%.
Our final losers were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had 0.15% taken off its top today.
Turning to the winners now, it was gold shares that shone the brightest, illustrated by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 5.76% surge.
Consumer staples stocks fared decently too, if not in the same league. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) bounced up 0.35% this Monday.
Communications shares got a reprieve as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifting 0.31%.
Utilities stocks were lucky too. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) ticked up 0.3% today.
Finally, mining shares pulled off a rise, as you'll see by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 0.14% bump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's standout performer was gold miner Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM). Capricorn shares rocketed a huge 11.73% this session to close at $11.43 each.
There wasn't any fresh news out of Capricorn today. However, most gold miners had a spectacular session, driven by a spike in the price of bullion.
Here's a look at the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) | $11.43 | 11.73% |
| Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) | $5.03 | 11.53% |
| Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) | $7.48 | 8.56% |
| Emerald Resources N.L. (ASX: EMR) | $4.06 | 7.41% |
| Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) | $3.71 | 7.85% |
| Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) | $0.57 | 6.54% |
| Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) | $20.10 | 6.41% |
| Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) | $4.02 | 6.35% |
| Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) | $1.76 | 5.09% |
| Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) | $9.10 | 5.08% |
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.
