It was a bumpy, but tentatively positive Thursday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today. The ASX 200 briefly dipped into negative territory this afternoon upon the latest unemployment figures, but ended up recovering to post a 0.15% gain for the day. That leaves the index at a flat 8,592 points.
This decent session for the Australian markets follows a far more optimistic morning over on the American market.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was on fire, shooting 1.05% higher.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't quite as enthusiastic, but still managed a gain of 0.33%.
But let's return to ASX shares and take a look at what the various ASX sectors were up to this Thursday.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
Despite the rise of the broader market, we still had quite a few red sectors.
At the front of those red sectors were again tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) continued to fall, plunging 1.48% today.
Healthcare shares were punished too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tanking 1.07%.
Communications stocks didn't have a fun time either. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) cratered by 0.7%.
Consumer discretionary shares weren't popular, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.55% dive.
Industrial stocks missed out as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) took a 0.29% hit this session.
Our last losers were consumer staples shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) retreating 0.14%.
Turning to the green sectors now, mining stocks led the charge. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) galloped 0.89% higher by the closing bell.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also ran hot, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.66% surge.
Energy shares were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) ended up recording a 0.58% rise.
Financial stocks were a little more subdued, though, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) adding 0.29% to its total.
Gold shares were in the same ballpark. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) got a 0.26% upgrade today.
Finally, utilities stocks scraped home with a win, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.2% lift.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out on top this Thursday was ASX building materials manufacturer James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX). James Hardie shares shot up 7.13% today to close at $30.51 each.
This gain came despite no obvious catalysts out from the company itself.
Here's how the other top shares landed the plane today:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) | $30.51 | 7.13% |
| Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) | $3.81 | 6.72% |
| Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) | $14.72 | 5.37% |
| Scentre Group (ASX: SCG) | $4.16 | 4.00% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $7.63 | 3.11% |
| Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) | $8.59 | 2.75% |
| Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) | $8.96 | 2.75% |
| Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) | $0.755 | 2.72% |
| Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) | $13.73 | 2.39% |
| Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) | $3.83 | 2.13% |
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.
