The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a red hump day session this Wednesday, continuing on the selling momentum we have seen for three days in a row now. After a big drop this morning, the ASX 200 managed to regain some ground over the day, but ended up closing 0.46% lower by the time trading wrapped up. That leaves the index at 8,630.4 points.
This disappointing mid-week session for Australian investors comes after a mixed night over on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) recovered from an early dip to post a 0.11% gain.
However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky and ended up dropping 0.71%.
Let's get back to ASX shares now, though, and take a deeper dive into what was going on amongst the different ASX sectors today.
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Winners and losers
Despite the fall of the broader market, we only had one sector that went backwards this Wednesday. If you can believe that.
That sector, of course, was financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) had a clanger, crashing 4.01% lower today.
It was all smiles everywhere else.
Leading the winners were consumer discretionary shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) galloping 2.94% higher.
Mining stocks had a strong session too. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surged 1.97% today.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) ran hot as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 1.22% jump.
Gold shares were in demand too. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared up 0.88%.
Communications stocks also had a day to remember, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) vaulting 0.65% higher.
Consumer staples shares held their value well. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) advanced 0.42% this session.
Tech stocks didn't miss out either, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.38% improvement.
Healthcare shares lived up to their name. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) went home 0.32% heavier.
Energy stocks weren't too far off that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lifting 0.25%.
Industrial shares were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) added 0.24% to its value this Wednesday.
Finally, utilities stocks kept above water, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.18% rise.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming in at the top of the index this hump day was gaming stock Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL). Aristocrat shares spiked a huge 13.28% this session to close at $51.94 each.
This came after the company posted its latest half-year results, which investors clearly took a shine to.
Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) | $51.94 | 13.28% |
| Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN) | $2.20 | 8.37% |
| Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) | $94.81 | 5.39% |
| Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) | $4.17 | 5.30% |
| Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) | $13.92 | 5.14% |
| Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) | $115.73 | 4.92% |
| GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) | $1.63 | 4.82% |
| Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) | $18.76 | 4.69% |
| Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) | $19.96 | 4.50% |
| Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) | $4.00 | 4.44% |
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.
