The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) reversed its recent winning streak this Wednesday with a session of heavy selling.
After lifting over both Monday and Tuesday this week, investors changed direction today, sending the ASX 200 down a nasty 1.23% by market close, leaving the index at 7,569.9 points.
Today's disappointing numbers follow a similarly bearish night over on the US markets last night (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a shocker, tanking by a horrid 1.49%.
It was even worse for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which was sent down 2.04%.
But returning to the local markets now, it's time for an examination of how the different ASX sectors traversed today's negativity.
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Winners and losers
It was all frowns on the markets this Wednesday, with not a single sector recording a rise.
The worst-hit space was gold shares though. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was singled out, cratering by an awful 3.95%.
Energy stocks also faced the brunt of investors' pain, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slumping 1.97%.
Mining shares weren't too far off that, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 1.78% tanking.
Tech stocks faced a shellacking as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) sank by 1.48% by the closing bell.
Consumer discretionary shares were put through the wringer too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) shedding 1.44%.
Industrial stocks were another sore spot, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 1.24% sell-off.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) endured a 1.23% drop today.
ASX healthcare shares didn't make up for it. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was given a 1.15% markdown by investors this session.
Communications stocks were on the nose too. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) saw 1.14% wiped from its value.
Consumer staples shares were no safe haven, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.85% collapse.
Financial stocks also got dished out. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) retreated by 0.72%.
Finally, utilities shares were the best place to be today. But you wouldn't know it from the 0.51% hit the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) took.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
It was slim pickings for the winners today, but ASX uranium share Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) managed the best showing.
Paladin shares vaulted 5.01% higher up to $14.67 each. As we went through earlier today, most uranium stocks had a great day, thanks to reports of a potential Russian uranium ban in the United States.
Here's how the rest of today's winners came down:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) | $14.67 | 5.01% |
| Amcor plc (ASX: AMC) | $14.45 | 4.56% |
| Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX) | $0.23 | 4.55% |
| Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) | $14.35 | 4.21% |
| Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) | $5.14 | 4.05% |
| Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) | $0.965 | 1.58% |
| Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) | $3.72 | 1.09% |
| Coles Group Inc (ASX: COL) | $16.40 | 1.11% |
| Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) | $123.18 | 0.90% |
| Atlas Arteria (ASX: ALX) | $5.23 | 0.77% |
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.
