Well, it was about as bad a start to a trading week as can possibly be for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most ASX shares this Monday. After a rough week last week, investors returned to the ASX boards in sheer panic today.
Thanks largely to shocks on global energy markets rolling through the world's economy, investors hit the sell button hard this session, sending the ASX 200 down by a horrific 2.85%. That leaves the index at just 8,599 points after it finished at 8,851 points last Friday.
This depressing start to the Australian trading week comes after a tough end to the American week on Saturday morning (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) suffered a sizeable drop of 0.95%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling by 1.59%.
But let's grit our teeth and return to this week and our local markets now for an autopsy of the various ASX sectors' performance this Monday.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
There was only one sector that prospered in today's sea of red. No prizes for guessing this one, but first, the losers.
Leading the sell-off this session were gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) continued last week's pessimism this Monday, crashing by another 5.18%.
Broader mining stocks were also abandoned, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking 4.82%.
Tech shares were friendless, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a day to forget, tumbling 4.76%.
Industrial stocks weren't immune from a smashing either, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 3.65% plunge.
Healthcare shares were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) suffered a 3.24% swing against it.
Nor were real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) retreating 2.36%.
Consumer staples stocks couldn't provide a safe harbour. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) dipped 2.21% this session.
Its consumer discretionary counterpart wasn't much better, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 2.18% loss.
Financial stocks weighed on the market, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was sent home 2.06% lighter this Monday.
Communications shares also went backwards, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) sliding 1.89%.
Our last losers were utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value cut by 1.18% today.
Finally, let's get to our only green sector. If you guessed energy shares, you were on the money, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 1.65% lift.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
The best stock on the index this Monday was coal miner Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL). Yancoal shares made hay while the rain poured today, shooting 13.27% higher to $7.17 each.
There wasn't any news out from the company, but, as we've already established, energy shares were the port in today's storm.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) | $7.17 | 13.27% |
| Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) | $2.00 | 10.19% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $8.85 | 4.36% |
| New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) |
$5.18 | 2.78% |
| Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) | $7.64 | 2.41% |
| Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) | $31.36 | 1.98% |
| Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) | $1.17 | 1.30% |
| Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) | $31.35 | 1.26% |
| Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF) | $9.39 | 0.21% |
| Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) | $7.12 | 0.14% |
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.
