The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended what has been a brutal week of trading with another loss this Friday.
After yesterday’s horrid 1.7% drop, investors weren’t in the mood to turn the ship around today. The ASX 200 spent the entire session in the red and ended up closing down 0.82%. That leaves the index at 8,428.4 points as we head into the weekend.
This not-so-nice end to the trading week for Australian investors follows a similarly downbeat morning on the American markets.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t hold water, falling 0.44%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) only managed a slightly better performance, dropping 0.28%.
Time now to get back to the local markets and take a closer look at what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors this Friday.
Winners and losers
There were far more red sectors this session than green ones.
Leading those red sectors were mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) continued its recent run of bad fortune, cratering by another 1.61%.
Gold stocks weren’t much better, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanking 1.45%.
Financial shares had a rough one as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) endured a 1.09% plunge today.
Industrial stocks were also on the nose, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 1.02% dive.
Consumer discretionary shares had a day to forget. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) had dipped 0.84% by the end of trading.
As did real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) retreating 0.67%.
Consumer staples stocks came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slid 0.25% lower this Friday.
Our last losers were tech shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’s 0.08% slip.
Turning to the winners now, it was healthcare stocks that shone the brightest. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) soared 1.2% higher this session.
Utilities shares ran hot as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) bouncing 0.72% higher.
Energy stocks were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) added 0.71% to its value today.
Finally, communications shares pulled off a win, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.24% rise.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Our top ASX 200 stock to end the week was gold share Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL). Catalyst stock shot up 8.4% to close at $6.58. That came despite no news from the company today.
Here’s the rest of today’s best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) | $6.58 | 8.40% |
| Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) | $9.30 | 5.51% |
| Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU) | $8.15 | 4.76% |
| Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) | $2.78 | 4.51% |
| BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) | $27.30 | 4.32% |
| TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) | $26.78 | 3.96% |
| Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) | $6.90 | 3.92% |
| Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) | $8.31 | 3.49% |
| WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) | $42.84 | 3.30% |
| New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) | $5.71 | 3.25% |
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.
The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.