The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finally recorded a positive day, reversing the four-for-four run of red days this week and closing the week's trading on a high note.
After some initial wobbles, the ASX 200 spent most of the day in green territory and ended up closing a happy 0.5% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,806 points as we head into the weekend.
This optimistic Friday session for Australian investors follows a similarly bullish night on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was cautiously optimistic, rising by 0.27%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was much more decisive, though, gaining a healthy 1.3%.
But let's return to the local markets now for a discussion of how the different ASX sectors handled today's warm trading conditions.
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Winners and losers
Despite the market's sunny disposition today, there were still more than a few sectors that lost ground.
Chief amongst those were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was hit hard today, slumping 1.96%.
Consumer discretionary shares were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) sinking 1.13%.
We could say something similar for communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) drifted 0.83% lower this session.
Tech shares weren't in the good books either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.6% tumble.
Consumer staples stocks were in a similar ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) shrank by 0.5% this Friday.
We could say the same for industrial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.39%.
Utilities shares got no reprieve. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slid down 0.33% this session.
Our final losers were energy shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.21% slip.
Turning to the winners now, the hottest corner of the market was gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up soaring 2.65% higher.
Broader mining shares were also in demand, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surging 2.32%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were a little tamer. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) still managed a 0.59% addition, though.
Finally, financial stocks got home safe, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.55% bounce.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Uranium company Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) was today's index topper. Silex shares rocketed 9.4% higher to close at $5.70 each this Friday.
This decisive move came despite no obvious catalysts out from the company itself.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) | $5.70 | 9.40% |
| Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) | $1.45 | 7.43% |
| Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) | $2.24 | 6.67% |
| Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) | $13.04 | 6.45% |
| Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) | $0.95 | 5.56% |
| South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) | $4.02 | 5.24% |
| Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) | $1.12 | 5.16% |
| Develop Group Ltd (ASX: DVP) | $6.03 | 4.69% |
| West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) | $2.85 | 4.40% |
| Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) | $10.06 | 4.14% |
Enjoy the weekend!
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.
