It was a mildly positive mid-week session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Wednesday, as investors built on the slow gains we saw yesterday.
By the time trading finished today, the ASX 200 had put on another 0.18%. That leaves the index at 8,595.2 points.
This decent hump day for the ASX follows a rosy morning up on the American markets.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising 0.39%.
Investors were even more bullish on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which gained 0.59%.
But let's get back to the local markets now for a closer look at what the various ASX sectors were up to today.
Winners and losers
There were only a handful of sectors that went backwards this session.
Those were led by healthcare shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was out of favour, diving 0.76%.
Industrial stocks were also left out in the cold, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sliding 0.34% lower.
Consumer staples shares were the other losers this Wednesday. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) ended up slipping 0.1%.
Let's get to the winners now. Leading the charge were utilities stocks, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.92% surge.
Energy shares fared well, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw its value spike 0.76%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) mirrored that gain, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) also surging 0.76%.
Tech stocks had a nice session as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw a 0.69% lift by the closing bell.
Next came communications shares, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.29% bounce.
Gold stocks saw some decent demand as well. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) banked a 0.28% increase this session.
Broader mining shares tied that rise, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also adding 0.28%.
Financial stocks weren't left out of the party. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) saw a 0.21% uptick.
Finally, consumer discretionary shares managed to get over the line, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.2% bump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best share came down to energy stock Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE). Boss shares surged 6.96% higher this hump day to close at $1.69 each.
This gain came despite no news out from the company. Most of Boss' peers did well today, too, though.
Here's how the other best performers pulled up at the kerb: