It was a torrid end to a horrid week of trading for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Friday.
After three days of selling this week, today's session made it a fourth, with the ASX 200 opening in red territory this morning and staying there all day. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had slumped another 0.89%, leaving the index at 8,741.2 points as we head into the weekend.
This rough end to the Australian trading week today comes after a tough night up on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't playing ball, dropping 0.6%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared similarly, falling 0.65%.
But let's get back to the local markets now for a look at how the various ASX sectors ended their respective weeks.
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Winners and losers
Unlike yesterday's session, there were some sectors that escaped the selling this Friday.
But first, it was mining shares that were hit the hardest. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had an awful time of it, plunging 3.68%.
Gold stocks were smashed too, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanking by 2.69%.
Tech shares had another shocker. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) cratered by 2.05% today.
Healthcare stocks weren't exempt either, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 1.24% dive.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) came next. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was sent home 0.95% lower.
Consumer discretionary shares didn't get much love, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) dipping 0.7%.
We could say the same for energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lost an early lead to close down 0.66%.
Our last losers this Friday were communications shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.08% slip.
Turning to the lucky green sectors now, it was financial stocks that held up the best. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) added a healthy 1.08% to its total this session.
Industrial shares were spared as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) lifting 0.24%.
Utilities stocks matched that gain. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) also climbed 0.24%.
Finally, consumer staples shares proved to be a safe haven, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.04% uptick.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best stock was insurer Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG). IAG shares bounced a decent 4.23% higher this session to close the week at $8.14 each.
This healthy jump came despite no obvious catalysts from the company itself.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) | $8.14 | 4.23% |
| Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) | $19.61 | 3.65% |
| AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB) | $27.90 | 3.33% |
| Ingenia Communities Group Ltd (ASX: INA) | $3.97 | 3.12% |
| Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) | $10.23 | 2.92% |
| QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) | $22.68 | 2.86% |
| National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) | $38.72 | 2.65% |
| Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) | $3.04 | 2.36% |
| Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) | $18.65 | 2.08% |
| ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) | $37.27 | 1.69% |
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.
