All 11 ASX 200 market sectors fell last week as the hype and excitement of earnings season died down.
In determining which sector did best last week, the measure of success was simply which one fell the least.
That was industrials, which slipped 0.53%. The industrials sector is considered a defensive play for investors.
The materials sector was the second-best performer, down 0.73%.
ASX 200 materials stocks were supported by the gold price surging to a new record high of US$3,593.20 per ounce during the week.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 1.14% of its value over the five trading days. It closed out the week at 8,871.2 points.
IG market analyst Tony Sycamore blamed surging bond yields for the ASX 200's decline.
Sycamore said (courtesy news.com.au):
The decline is primarily driven by surging bond yields and the return of the bond vigilantes, fuelled by concerns over large fiscal deficits, central banks cutting rates into persistent inflation and President Trump's dovish reshaping of the US Federal Reserve.
Better-than-expected Australian GDP growth in the June quarter likely also contributed to the sell-off, as it reduced the case for a rate cut.
Let's look at how the ASX 200 industrial sector's biggest companies performed last week.
Image source: Getty Images
Industrials led the ASX 200 sectors last week
The industrials sector's largest stock, Transurban Group Ltd (ASX: TCL), fell 1.58% to finish at $14.37 per share on Friday.
The Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) share price lifted 2.35% to close at $26.56.
Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) shares fell 1.86% to $37.46.
SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) shares lost 2.18% to close at $49.41 on Friday.
ASX 200 airline share Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) rose 0.85% to $11.85.
Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX: AIA) shares lost 0.15% to $6.82.
The ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) share price rose 1.18% to $18.81.
Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR) shares lost 0.2% to close at $14.66 on Friday.
Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB) shares tumbled 2.38% to $4.10.
The Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) share price fell 6.63% to close out the week at $10.42.
Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY) shares declined 0.72% to $2.76 per share.
Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) shares fell 1.85% to $3.18.
Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) shares fell 3.73% to $6.96 apiece.
The Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) share price dropped 4.41% to $5.20.
The Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) share price lifted 5.28% to $8.18.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.
Over the five trading days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change last week |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | (0.53%) |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | (0.73%) |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (0.81%) |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | (0.97%) |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | (1.15%) |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | (1.41%) |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | (1.84%) |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | (1.84%) |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | (1.93%) |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (1.99%) |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (3.74%) |
Looking for investment inspiration?
Check out Macquarie's top ASX 200 share picks in each of the 11 market sectors post-earnings season.
