The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) managed to snap the three-day losing streak it had been on this week to push higher today.
After falling all week, ASX investors appeared to decide enough was enough this Thursday, and pushed the ASX 200 up 0.37% by the closing bell. That leaves the index at a flat 8,224 points.
This happy session for the Australian markets comes after a more mixed night of trading over on the American markets in the early hours of this morning.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to eke out a gain, inching 0.11% higher.
But the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky, losing 0.26% of its value.
Let's return to the ASX now though for a look at how the various ASX sectors handled today's shift in market sentiment.
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Winners and losers
Despite today's broader market gains, we still had quite a few sectors that went backwards.
The most conspicuous of those were ASX gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) continued its recent poor form and cratered by another 3.65%.
Broader mining stocks were also out of favour, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking 1.16%.
Healthcare shares had a rough day too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lost 0.6% of its value.
Investors shunned energy stocks as well, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.56% loss.
Our final losers were consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) retreated 0.14% today.
Turning to the winners now, tech stocks took out today's gold medal, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) rocketing up 1.82%.
Financial shares were running hot as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) soared up 1.37% this Thursday.
Consumer discretionary stocks had a decent session, too, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.99% surge.
Next up were real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) recovered 0.74% of its value today.
Utilities shares were in a similar boat, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) gaining 0.57%.
Then we had communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) rose by 0.52%.
Finally, industrial shares eked out a rise, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.15% improvement.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Today's best share came down to agricultural stock Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF). Nufarm shares had a blast today, galloping 6.01% higher to finish at $3.88 each. This move follows the company releasing its full-year earnings for FY2024 this morning, which investors obviously took a shine to.
Here's how the other top shares tied up at the dock this afternoon:
| ASX-listed company | Share price | Price change |
| Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) | $3.88 | 6.01% |
| Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) | $171.00 | 5.85% |
| Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) | $17.30 | 4.59% |
| Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) | $17.39 | 4.57% |
| Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) | $5.38 | 3.66% |
| Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) | $13.59 | 3.35% |
| Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY) | $2.80 | 3.32% |
| Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) | $4.46 | 3.24% |
| Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH) | $0.495 | 3.13% |
| James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) | $55.00 | 3.09% |
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.
