The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a tough session this Tuesday, sending the value of many ASX shares sharply lower. After yesterday's lukewarm start to the trading week, investors turned decisively negative today, with the ASX 200 starting in red territory and getting progressively worse over the session.
By the time the closing bell rang, the index had lost a flat 1%, leaving it at 8,920.8 points.
The American markets were closed last night for the Labor Day holiday, so Friday's losses are our last point of reference. Let's see what they do later tonight.
So let's get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors traversed the tough trading conditions that we saw this Tuesday.
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Winners and losers
Despite the broader market's sharp drop, there were a few sectors that escaped with a rise.
But first, it was consumer discretionary stocks that copped the worst of it this Tuesday. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) had an awful time, plunging 1.88%.
Tech shares weren't much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) cratering 1.76%.
Financial stocks were also in that ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ended up diving 1.63%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't popular either, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 1.46% slump.
Consumer staples shares were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) retreated 1.31% this session.
Nor were industrial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sinking 0.74%.
Communications shares were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) dipped 0.73% this Tuesday.
Mining stocks couldn't escape the selling, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 0.57% slide.
The same can be said for our last losers, gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up slipping 0.22%.
Let's get to the green sectors now. At the front of that line were utilities stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumping 0.59% today.
Healthcare stocks displayed some strong vitals too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up galloping 0.45% higher.
Finally, energy stocks got over the line, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.22% improvement.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Gold stock Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI) was our best index performer this Tuesday. Predictive shares beat out some uninspired competition to close 3.76% higher at $4.69.
Despite this market-bucking gain, there wasn't any fresh news out from the company to explain it.
Here's how the other winners pulled up at the kerb this session:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI) | $4.69 | 3.76% |
| Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) | $6.66 | 3.10% |
| Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV) | $7.75 | 2.92% |
| Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) | $2.29 | 2.69% |
| South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) | $5.22 | 2.05% |
| FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM) | $1.82 | 1.96% |
| NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) | $7.86 | 1.95% |
| Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) | $1.31 | 1.95% |
| Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) | $2.98 | 1.56% |
| Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) | $1.81 | 1.69% |
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.
