It was another bumpy session for ASX shares and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Wednesday.
After narrowly missing out on a rise yesterday, investors were in for a similar experience today, with the ASX 200 slipping 0.035% lower by the end of the session. That leaves the index at 8,845.7 points.
This miserly hump day session for the Australian stock market follows a more optimistic Tuesday for the American markets overnight.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) did have a few dips of its own, but ended up closing 0.18% higher.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, gaining 0.3%.
But let's return to the local markets now and take stock of how the various ASX sectors coped with today's difficult trading conditions.
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Winners and losers
Despite the market's overall losses today, there were far more sectors that went up than down.
But firstly, it was consumer discretionary shares that copped the worst of the selling. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) had a tough day, sinking by 0.83%.
Mining stocks were pulled back in too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) diving 0.72% lower.
Investors had a similar sentiment for energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw 0.43% shaved from its value today.
Believe it or not, that's it for the red sectors.
Industrial stocks were the best performers overall, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.99% surge.
Utilities shares ran hot, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) soared 0.79% higher this session.
Gold stocks also saw some demand, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) galloping 0.58% higher.
Communications shares were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifted 0.49% this hump day.
Healthcare stocks were at the ASX party as well, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.34% uptick.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) fared identically. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) also rose 0.34%.
Tech shares also joined the party, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) vaulting up 0.26%.
Financial stocks scraped home with a rise. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) got a 0.09% bump this Wednesday.
Finally, consumer staples shares only just got out with an improvement, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.01% inch higher.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
This first day of October saw defence stock DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) take out the top spot. DroneShield shares rocketed a huge 13.18% today to close at $5.74 each.
This stupendous rise came amid some noise about a new European 'drone wall', which may have boosted sentiment.
Here's how the rest of today's best landed their planes:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) | $5.74 | 23.18% |
| Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) | $4.96 | 10.71% |
| Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) | $8.19 | 5.81% |
| Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL) | $40.57 | 5.40% |
| A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) | $9.08 | 5.21% |
| Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL) | $3.25 | 4.84% |
| Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC) | $3.55 | 4.41% |
| Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) | $15.20 | 4.32% |
| Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN) | $2.93 | 4.27% |
| AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) | $9.22 | 4.18% |
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.
