The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and ASX shares have recorded another red day on the markets this Thursday. After falling by a depressing 1.3% yesterday, the ASX 200 retreated again today, with investors offloading 0.58% from the index, leaving it at 7,311.8 points.
That leaves the ASX 200 1.9% lower since only Tuesday.
The slide comes after a big night of selling up on Wall Street last night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was not in a good mood and slumped 0.98% lower. The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was in full panic mode though, tanking by a horrid 2.17%.
But back to the local share market now, and let's take a glance at the different ASX sectors and how they fared this Thursday.
Image source: Getty Images
Winners and losers
It was a fairly bleak day of trading for almost every corner of the market today. In fact, just one ASX sector managed to eke out a gain (more on that later).
All other sectors were in the red. But some fared worse than others, as you would expect.
Today's worst market performer was the ASX tech sector. It was always going to be a rough trot for ASX tech shares today, considering the horrible performance of the NASDAQ last night. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) ended up copping a 1.63% fall.
ASX mining shares were another real sore spot on the markets. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) retreated by a substantial 1.06%.
Energy shares weren't too far behind, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.79% drop.
Financials stocks fared a little better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) still fell by 0.49%.
Consumer discretionary shares, represented by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ), ended up slipping by 0.19%.
However, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by chocking right at market close and snagging a loss of 0.006%.
As we mentioned above, there was one lucky standout today that actually lifted today. And that was the communications sector. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) ended up rising by a slight 0.19% by market close.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Time now for a look at which ASX 200 shares managed to rise in value on this red day for the share market. Our best-performing share today was none other than ASX and UK-listed bank Virgin Money UK plc (ASX: VUK). Virgin Money shares ended up gaining a solid 3.27% to finish at $3.47 a share.
Perhaps this was in response to news that its British parent is launching a 50 million pound share buyback program.
Here are the other winning shares from today's session:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Virgin Money UK plc (ASX: VUK) | $3.47 | 3.27% |
| EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT) | $12.08 | 3.25% |
| Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) | $1.51 | 3.07% |
| Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) | $5.99 | 1.87% |
| Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) | $4.94 | 1.44% |
| Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) | $3.65 | 1.39% |
| Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) | $40.24 | 1.36% |
| Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) | $1.645 | 1.23% |
| QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) | $15.85 | 1.15% |
| Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) | $2.91 | 1.04% |
Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.
