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.
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.
