It was another tough session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this final day of October. After selling down yesterday, investors kept up the pressure this session.
By the time the closing bell rang, the ASX 200 had fallen 0.28%, leaving the index at 8,157.8 points.
This miserly day for ASX shares this Thursday comes after an equally sour morning for Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) closed 0.22% lower by the time American trading wrapped up.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even worse, dropping 0.56%.
But let's return to the ASX now for a checkup on what the different ASX sectors were doing today.
Winners and losers
Once more, there were decidedly more losers than winners amongst the ASX sectors this Thursday.
Leading those red sectors were again consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) had another shocker today, tanking 1.64%.
Utilities stocks also had a rough time of it, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) plunging 0.92%.
ASX mining shares also found themselves on the wrong side of the line. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) crashed 0.68% lower today.
Energy stocks fared slightly better, although the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) still lost 0.46%.
Industrial shares were in that ballpark too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) retreating 0.45%.
Communications stocks couldn't escape the malaise either. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) was walked back 0.38% today.
Healthcare shares didn't exactly live up to their name, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.34% slide.
Our next losers today were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) also slipped down 0.34%.
Our final red sector was the real estate investment trust (REIT) space, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) shedding 0.15%.
Turning to the winners now, the most successful sector this Thursday was tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a pleasant session, climbing 0.52%.
Consumer discretionary shares were also in form, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.17% bump.
Finally, financial stocks escaped with a win. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ticked up 0.13% today.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best stock on the index was mining share Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN). Mineral Resources shares shot up 9.2% today to finish at $39.40 each.
This big move followed news that the company has agreed to sell two energy exploration permits to Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting. The company also released its latest quarterly results today.
Here's the rest of today's best:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) | $39.40 | 9.20% |
| JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) | $82.03 | 5.29% |
| Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) | $12.40 | 4.73% |
| Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR) | $2.00 | 4.17% |
| Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) | $10.20 | 3.55% |
| Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8) | $9.35 | 2.63% |
| ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB) | $41.50 | 2.62% |
| WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) | $118.28 | 2.50% |
| De Grey Mining Ltd (ASX: DEG) | $1.53 | 2.35% |
| Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN) | $31.02 | 2.14% |
Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.
