It was a pleasant Thursday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares today. After yesterday's sunny showing, investors were keen to double down on the buying this session, with the ASX 200 remaining in positive territory all day, and closing 0.18% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,839 points.
This in-form display on the ASX boards follows a more downbeat session up on Wall Street last night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't hold on to an early lead and finished 0.012% lower.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, dropping 0.57%.
But let's return to ASX shares now and check out what the various ASX sectors were up to this Thursday.
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Winners and losers
Despite the market's gains, we had an even split between red and green sectors today.
Leading those red sectors were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was hit hard, plunging 3.32%.
Consumer discretionary shares weren't popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) diving 1.52%.
Next came healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up slumping 1.43%.
Communications shares were also on the nose, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 1.15% dip.
Consumer staples stocks were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) went backwards by 0.53%.
Our last losers were industrial shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slipping 0.46%.
Turning to the green sectors now, mining stocks headlined the winners. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 1.37% higher this session.
Gold shares were in demand as well, illustrated by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 1.34% surge.
Energy stocks ran hot too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw its value climb 0.98%.
Utilities shares followed energy, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifting 0.65%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also enjoyed today's market sunshine. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) vaulted up 0.52% today.
Finally, financial stocks got across the line intact, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.29% bump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Financial stock Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) was our best performer on the ASX today. Generation shares rocketed a massive 37.13% this session to close at $4.58 each. This extraordinary leap higher followed an exceptionally well-received quarterly update.
Here's how the rest of today's top stocks tied up at the dock:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) | $4.58 | 37.13% |
| Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) | $10.19 | 11.61% |
| James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) | $36.99 | 6.14% |
| Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) | $0.66 | 5.60% |
| Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) | $1.43 | 5.56% |
| Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $1.28 | 3.64% |
| Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) | $19.36 | 3.58% |
| Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) | $1.62 | 3.53% |
| Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) | $66.11 | 3.52% |
| Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) | $1.40 | 3.32% |
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.
