It was a flying start to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Monday.
It seems investors came back from the weekend determined to reverse Friday's dramatic sell-off, and they succeeded. By the time the markets shut up shop today, the ASX 200 had enjoyed its best day in quite a long time, rocketing 1.85% to close at 8,870.1 points.
This exuberant session for Australian investors comes after an equally ecstatic finish to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was on fire, shooting 2.47% higher.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was singing from the same song sheet, gaining 2.18%.
But let's return to this week and the local markets now, and check out how today's euphoria filtered down into the various ASX sectors today.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
It shouldn't surprise anyone to say that there were no red sectors this Monday, with every sector of the ASX moving higher.
The least enthusiastic sector today was healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) still managed a respectable 0.59% bump, though.
Communications shares were also in the slow lane, relatively speaking, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) bouncing 0.88% higher.
Consumer staples stocks started to get up there, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) jumped 0.99% today.
Next came financial shares, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 1.24% advance.
Utilities stocks were a dead heat with financials. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) also rose by 1.24%.
Consumer discretionary shares took matters to the next level though, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) galloping up 1.7%.
Energy stocks put on a similar show. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lifted 1.79% higher this Monday.
We could say the same for industrial shares, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 1.81% improvement.
Mining stocks really hit the road, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surged 2.99% today.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) did even better, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) soaring up 3.23%.
Tech shares rebounded with a vengeance. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) rocketed 3.31% higher by the closing bell.
But finally, our winners this Monday were gold stocks, illustrated by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s explosive gain of 5.48%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Beating out some tough competition to top the index today was travel stock Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB). Web shares blazed 18.58% higher this session to close at $3.51 each.
This dramatic surge of value seemed to be a rebound after last Friday's near-30% loss.
Here's a look at the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) | $3.51 | 18.58% |
| Car Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) | $26.91 | 9.93% |
| Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) | $1.57 | 9.44% |
| Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) | $8.37 | 9.27% |
| West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) | $3.49 | 9.06% |
| DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) | $3.15 | 8.62% |
| Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) | $2.38 | 8.18% |
| Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) | $6.18 | 7.85% |
| Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) | $7.66 | 7.28% |
| SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR) | $4.34 | 6.90% |
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.
