The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has just given ASX investors a not-so-merry start to December today, closing the trading week with a mild loss.
By the end of trading this Friday, the ASX 200 had slipped by 0.2%, leaving the index to finish the week at 7,073.2 points.
This less-than-ideal start to the final month of 2023 follows a far more optimistic night of trading up on the US markets overnight (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a cracking time, shooting up by a robust 1.47% to close out its November.
However, it was a different story for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which went the other way and lost 0.23% of its value.
But let's get back to the local markets, with a look at how the different ASX sectors closed the trading week.
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Winners and losers
We had far more losers than winners this Friday, as you would expect from a down day on the markets.
Chief amongst those losers were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a fairly horrid day, tanking by a hefty 1.08%.
Consumer staples shares and consumer discretionary stocks were next up. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) dropped by 0.84%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) lost 0.81% of its value.
Gold shares weren't much of a safe haven today either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)retreated by 0.44% by market close.
Communications shares were another sore spot. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) ended up walking back by 0.38%.
Utilities shares weren't exempt from the losses. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slipped by 0.30% by the end of trading.
ASX financials stocks weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) gave up 0.16% of its value this Friday.
Mining shares were another red space, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) sliding 0.08%.
And our final loser was the healthcare space, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s loss of 0.01%.
Turning to the few winners, and today it was energy shares that shone, if you can call it that. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) finished with a mild rise of 0.12%.
The only other winner today was the real estate investment trusts (REIT) sector. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) managed to eke out of 0.02% rise.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Our best-performing share on the index to end the week was uranium stock Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN). Paladin shares rocketed a pleasing 6.15% to $1.035 each.
That was despite a complete absence of news or announcements out from the company.
Here's what the rest of this Friday's winners looked like:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) | $1.035 | 6.15% |
| Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) | $1.59 | 6.00% |
| IRESS Ltd (ASX: IRE) | $7.36 | 4.69% |
| Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) | $16.09 | 3.81% |
| Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) | $7.82 | 2.89% |
| Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) | $25.11 | 2.83% |
| Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) | $133.79 | 2.38% |
| National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR) | $2.21 | 2.31% |
| Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) | $3.53 | 2.02% |
| BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) | $21.13 | 1.68% |
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.
