The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed a strong start to the trading week this Monday. After spending the entire session in green territory, the ASX 200 stuck the landing and finished with a 0.48% gain. That leaves the index at 8,759.4 points.
This happy introduction to the week's trading for Australian investors comes after a similarly bullish conclusion to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) finished its week on a high, rising by a robust 0.48%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more enthusiastic, gaining a confident 0.81%.
But let's return to this week and the local markets now to check how today's positive market mood has filtered down into the different ASX sectors.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
Today's optimism lifted almost all ASX boats, with only two sectors missing out on a rise.
The first, and worst of those losers, was utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) was punished this Monday, diving by a hefty 1.81%.
The other unlucky corner of the markets was mining shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) slipping by a tantalising 0.04%.
Turning to the green sectors now, gold stocks took out today's top spot. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) managed to rocket 2.7% higher this session.
Consumer discretionary shares were in demand too, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 2.12% surge.
Its consumer staples counterpart was also hot property. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) managed to soar 1.12% higher.
Energy shares didn't miss out, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) galloping 0.86% higher this Monday.
Nor did industrial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) added 0.82% to its total.
We could say the same for healthcare shares too, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.64% lift.
Tech shares found plenty of buyers as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw a 0.49% improvement today.
Financial stocks came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) bouncing 0.44% higher.
Communications shares managed to pull off a decisive rise. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) jumped up 0.4%.
Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) only just made the winner's cut, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.02% edge higher.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Our winner this Monday was gaming stock Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW), which managed to surge 17.97% higher to $182.50 per share.
This big gain followed an announcement that the company had settled a rather large legal dispute.
I'd also like to draw readers to our second and third-best-performing stocks. Both managed to rise exactly 6.52% to exactly $4.41 a share. A glitch in the matrix, perhaps.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) | $182.50 | 17.97% |
| Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) | $4.41 | 6.52% |
| HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC) | $4.41 | 6.52% |
| Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) | $4.39 | 6.30% |
| Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) | $166.59 | 5.84% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $8.23 | 5.11% |
| Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) | $4.19 | 5.01% |
| Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $2.15 | 4.88% |
| Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) | $14.78 | 4.82% |
| James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) | $33.98 | 4.81% |
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.
