The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) suffered a rather horrid start to the trading week this Monday, taking a sharp hit as investors returned from the weekend.
After staying in red territory all session, the ASX 200 had taken a 1.02% tumble by the time trading wrapped up. That nasty drop leaves the index at 8,778.6 points.
This Garfield-esque return to trading for the Australian markets follows a similarly downbeat end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) closed out its week on a sour note with a 0.36% fall.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, dropping 0.94%.
But let's get back to this week and ASX shares now, and dig a little deeper into how the different ASX sectors handled today's selling pressure.
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Winners and losers
There were only three sectors that escaped today's session with a gain. But more on those after the losers.
Leading those losers this Monday were again gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was violently sold off today, crashing by 7.18%.
Broader mining shares were punished too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) cratering by 3.09%.
Energy stocks were also shunned. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had taken a 2% dive by the closing bell.
Healthcare shares weren't finding friends, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 1.65% slump.
Tech stocks weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) came back 1.13% lighter after today's trading.
Industrial shares saw weakness as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) plunging 0.58%.
We could say the same for real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) suffered a 0.36% swing against it this session.
Consumer discretionary stocks couldn't stick the landing either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.31% slide.
Its consumer staples counterpart was our last loser. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slipped by 0.03% this session.
Let's turn to the winners now. In first place, we had communications stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) jumping 0.5% this Monday.
Financial shares also escaped unscathed. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ended up adding 0.14% to its value.
Finally, utilities stocks scraped home with a small gain, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.02% improvement.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out at the front of the index pack today was media company Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC). Nine shares rushed 6.55% higher this session to close at $1.22 each.
There wasn't any news out from Nine this Monday, though, so perhaps this strong rise has last week's big announcements to thank.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) | $1.22 | 6.55% |
| DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) | $3.45 | 3.92% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $9.12 | 3.28% |
| New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) | $4.63 | 2.66% |
| Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) | $2.72 | 2.64% |
| PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) | $4.39 | 2.33% |
| Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC) | $2.36 | 2.61% |
| Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) | $12.33 | 2.32% |
| News Corporation (ASX: NWS) | $44.80 | 2.17% |
| ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB) | $26.33 | 2.01% |
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.
