A majority of the ASX 200's sectors ended up banking a positive move over this trading week, despite the negative end we saw this Friday.
The best place to be this week was (fittingly) in healthcare shares.
The worst, energy stocks.
Overall, six of the 11 market sectors finished the week higher. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) retreated by 0.02% over the past five trading days to close at 6,976.5 points on Friday, thanks to today's loss.
Let's break down what happened on the markets this week.
Healthcare led the ASX sectors this week
According to CommSec, this week's strongest performer was the healthcare sector, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifting a rosy 3.09%.
We can thank the ASX 200's largest healthcare stock, CSl Limited (ASX: CSL) for this move. CSL shares had a great week, putting away a rise of 3.34% to finish the week at $252.14 a share.
There wasn't a lot of news out of the company itself this week. However, we did see the vaccine and blood medicine giant showered with some love from ASX experts.
Another healthcare stock making some waves was Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU). Neuren shares didn't have much to say either. But that didn't stop this company's recent momentum from continuing, with Neuren gaining another 18.04% over the week.
Consumer discretionary shares also had a top time over the week just gone. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) ended up rising 1.63%.
One of the best-performing consumer discretionary stocks was appliance maker Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG). Breville shares soared 6.43% over the last five trading days, again possibly thanks to some recent broker recommendations.
On the other side of the tracks, we had energy sources as our worst sector to be in this week, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) losing a hefty 4.26% of its value.
Most energy shares had a horrid week, thanks to global oil prices coming off the boil. This is exemplified by sector leader Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) losing 5.38% since last Friday, finishing the week at $32.03 a share.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up this week.
Over the past five days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change this week |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | 3.09% |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | 1.63% |
| Communications (ASX: XTJ) | 1.34% |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | 1.05% |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | 1.05% |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | 0.86% |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | (0.42%) |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | (0.5%) |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | (0.74%) |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (1.81%) |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | (4.26%) |
