The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the trading week off on a decidedly sour note this Monday, with the value of many ASX shares taking a hit.
Investors seemed to lose all of the optimism that defined the end of last week's trading, with the index opening sharply lower this morning. Although investors did have a temporary change of heart around lunchtime, sending the ASX 200 briefly back into positive territory, it wasn't to last. By the time the market closed, the index had lost 0.18% and closed at a flat 9,076 points.
This Garfield-esque start to the Australian trading week came after a similarly negative end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early lead to finish down 0.018%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, losing 0.52%.
But let's return to this week and our local markets now for a closer look at how the broader market's pessimism affected the different ASX sectors this Monday.
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Winners and losers
Despite the market's overall falls, we saw a few sectors make some hay.
But first, it was gold stocks that were hit the hardest this session. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was smashed down 4.33% by the closing bell.
Broader mining shares were also punished, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) plunging 2.02%.
Tech stocks were also shunned. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) cratered 1.39% today.
Healthcare shares didn't have a healthy time either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.61% dive.
Our final losers this Monday were consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) shrank 0.37%.
Let's turn to the winners now. It was financial shares that took the glory, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) soaring 1.14% higher.
Consumer staples stocks ran hot, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) bounced 0.91% higher this session.
Communications shares were also in high demand, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.78% jump.
Energy stocks found plenty of buyers as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) got a 0.54% bump.
Industrial shares got a reprieve as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) putting on 0.38%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also got out with a win. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) ended up adding 0.18% to its total today.
Finally, utilities shares got over the line, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.07% improvement.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Property stock PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) was our top-performing stock on the index this Monday. Pexa shares surged 9.43% this session to close at $7.31 each. This leap higher came after Pexa reported its latest earnings, which investors clearly took a shine to.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) | $7.31 | 9.43% |
| Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) | $5.56 | 4.71% |
| Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) | $20.86 | 3.83% |
| Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) | $2.96 | 3.50% |
| Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI) | $5.20 | 2.97% |
| Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) | $16.83 | 2.87% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $8.55 | 2.52% |
| Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $1.23 | 2.51% |
| Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) | $43.06 | 2.33% |
| Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) | $18.86 | 2.28% |
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.
