It was a bumpy, but overall positive session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Thursday.
After the significant sell-down that we saw yesterday, investors didn't seem to know what to do today. Following stints in both red and green territory, the ASX 200 eventually stuck the landing, if only just, recording a rise worth 0.097%. That leaves the index at a flat 8,773 points.
This jumpy Thursday for the local markets follows a decidedly more negative night up on the US markets overnight.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was again out of form, dropping 0.37%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) put on a near-identical show, falling 0.33%.
But let's get back to ASX shares now and check out how today's market moves translated to the various ASX sectors.
Winners and losers
There were far more red sectors on the ASX boards this Thursday than green ones.
Leading those red sectors were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was hit hard this session, plunigng 1.73% lower.
Consumer staples shares weren't spared either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) tanking 0.75%.
Healthcare stocks had a rough one as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) slumped by 0.61% today.
Industrial stocks also spent the day friendless, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.6% drop.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) struggled as well. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) saw its value sink 0.46% this Thursday.
Communications shares had another day to forget, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) getting a 0.31% reduction.
Financial stocks weren't helping matters. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) retreated by 0.29% today.
Tech shares fared very similarly, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.38% dip.
Consumer discretionary stocks round out our losers. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) ended up slipping 0.15% lower.
Turning to the green sectors now, it was energy stocks that starred, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) shooting 1.90% higher.
Mining shares also helped offset other losses. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared up 1.55% this session.
Finally, utilities stocks were lucky to escape with a lift, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.35% gain.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best index performer came down to copper miner Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC). Capstone shares rocketed a massive 10.75% this session to close at $12.47 each.
This follows some news on the copper markets, which was highly lucrative for any company involved with the extraction of the red metal today.
Here's how the other best performers landed their planes this Thursday:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) | $12.47 | 10.75% |
| Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) | $13.65 | 7.57% |
| Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) | $1.73 | 6.13% |
| Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) | $121.77 | 3.60% |
| BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) | $41.67 | 3.55% |
| Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) | $1.20 | 3.46% |
| New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) | $4.05 | 3.32% |
| Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) | $4.74 | 3.27% |
| IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) | $7.26 | 2.83% |
| Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) | $16.99 | 2.72% |
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.
