It was an exceptional Thursday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most ASX shares today, its fourth day of gains in a row this week.
Investors were right out of the gates this morning, pushing the ASX 200 to a fresh new all-time high of 9,118.3 points around lunchtime. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had settled at 9,086.2 points, a gain of 0.88%.
This jubilant session for the local markets comes after a positive, albeit less enthusiastic, morning up on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to close in the green, rising 0.26%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) had a happier journey, gaining 0.78%.
But let's get back to the Australian markets now with a checkup on what the various ASX sectors were up to this Thursday.
Winners and losers
Despite the market records we saw this session, a handful of sectors went backwards.
Leading those red sectors were consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) was hit hard today, slumping by a nasty 2.99%.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were also singled out for punishment, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) plunging 2.46%.
Consumer staples shares were no safe haven either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) saw its value cut by 0.35% this session.
But that's it for the red sectors, so let's get to the good stuff. It was energy stocks that led the charge higher today, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 3.8% surge.
Communications shares ran hot as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) had soared 2.25% higher by the end of trading.
Healthcare stocks saw some decent demand too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) galloping up 1.73%.
Gold shares were popular as well. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) jumped 1.51%.
We could say the same for financial stocks, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 1.44% lift.
Tech shares didn't miss out either. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw a 1.39% spike in value this session.
Mining stocks were in a similar boat, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) bouncing up 1.33%.
Industrial shares came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) put on an additional 0.98% this Thursday.
Finally, utilities stocks made the winner's cut, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.31% bump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out at the front of the index this Thursday was fintech stock HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB). HUB24 shares had a blowout day, shooting 14.16% higher to $98.45 a share.
We don't have to look too far for this one, as today's gains stem from the well-received earnings report the company delivered this morning.
Here's how the rest of today's top stocks pulled up at the kerb: