It was a rough start to the trading week this Monday for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares. After initially plunging by as much as 0.8%, the ASX 200 made up ground throughout the trading day, but still closed 0.13% lower. That leaves the index at a flat 8,853 points.
This troubled comeback from the weekend came after a mixed end to the American trading week last Friday night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) ended the week on a sour note, tumbling 0.59%
It was much better for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), though, which managed to rise by 0.44%.
Let's get back to this week and the local markets now and check out how today's Garfield-esque session affected the various ASX sectors.
Winners and losers
Despite the broader market's slump, there were still a few sectors that managed to get out ahead. But more on those soon.
Firstly, leading the red sectors this Monday were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was hit hard today, tanking by 2.68%.
Healthcare shares were punished too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tanking 0.84%.
Mining stocks were sold off as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was sent home 0.54% lighter.
Communications shares weren't popular either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.27% slide.
Our final losers were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slipped 0.2% lower today.
Turning to the winners now, it was energy shares that led the charge for the green sectors, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) surging 0.64% higher.
Consumer discretionary stocks weren't too far off that. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) lifted by 0.59% this session.
Utilities shares saw some buying too, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.37% lift.
Consumer staples stocks proved to be immune from the selling too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) put on an additional 0.31% today.
Tech shares were in a similar ballpark, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) bouncing up 0.27%.
Industrial stocks also managed to pull off a rise. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) had added 0.15% to its total by the closing bell.
Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) escaped unscathed this Monday, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.14% uptick.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's winner came down to lithium stock Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS). Pilbara shares rocketed a significant 9.09% this session to close at $2.16 a share. There wasn't any price-sensitive news out of the company today. However, most lithium stocks had a blowout.
Here's how the rest of today's best fared: