It was a happy hump day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most ASX shares this Wednesday, if only just.
After a strong session yesterday, investors were a little jittery, with the index having stints in both positive and negative territory. By the end of trade, the bulls had won out though, and the ASX 200 finished at 7,804.5 points, up 0.14% for the day.
This ultimately successful session follows a similarly indecisive night over on Wall Street last night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a bouncy time but came out with a rise of 0.082%.
It wasn't so good for the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) though, which retreated by 0.1%.
But getting back to Australian shares, let's look at what was going on with the different ASX sectors this Wednesday.
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Winners and losers
Beginning with the red sectors, it was consumer discretionary stocks that were the most unfortunate corner of the market today. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) was left out in the cold, losing 0.36% of its value.
Mining shares were also left on the shelf, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) retreating by 0.14%.
ASX energy stocks weren't getting any love either. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slid 0.04% lower.
Consumer staples shares also technically recorded a loss, although the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) finished essentially flat.
That's it for the losers though. Industrial stocks topped the markets today. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) had a ball, soaring 0.73%.
Tech shares had a wonderful time too, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.59% surge.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't missing out. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) ended up bouncing 0.37%.
Healthcare stocks are next up. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) enjoyed a 0.34% increase in value today.
Utilities shares were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) closed 0.27% higher.
Financial stocks were also making their investors happy, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.21% improvement.
Communications shares joined the party, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifting 0.19%.
Gold stocks were our final winners of the day. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had a decent, if unspectacular showing, inching 0.12% higher.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming in hottest on the index today was healthcare stock Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV). Polynovo shares spiked a healthy 8.02% up to $2.29 each by the close of trading.
This gain came after the company revealed a strong month over April in a trading update this morning.
Here's how the rest of today's winners came in:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) | $2.29 | 8.02% |
| Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) | $12.61 | 6.68% |
| Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC) | $13.50 | 5.06% |
| Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) | $1.33 | 3.91% |
| Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) | $4.87 | 3.62% |
| Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG) | $6.15 | 3.36% |
| Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) | $116.29 | 2.82% |
| PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) | $14.23 | 2.74% |
| West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) | $1.45 | 2.47% |
| NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) | $17.46 | 2.17% |
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.
