Wall Street JournalThe S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended the trading week on a positive note this Friday, recording a respectable rise.
After recovering from an early morning slump, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.3% higher by the closing bell. That leaves the index at 8,434.7 points as we head into the weekend.
This solid end to the week's trading for ASX investors follows a similarly rosy session up on Wall Street overnight.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a decent time, rising 0.28%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was in the same ballpark, gaining 0.39%.
But let's get back to ASX stocks now and see how today's benign trading conditions filtered down into the different ASX sectors today.
Winners and losers
There were far more green sectors than red ones this Friday.
Leading the latter, though, were energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) gave up much of yesterday's gains, plunging 1.37%.
Tech stocks had a day to forget as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) diving 0.58%.
Consumer discretionary shares were also unlucky. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) saw 0.45% wiped from its value.
Our final losers were communications stocks, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.42% slide.
Turning to the green sectors now, gold shares topped the charts this session. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) enjoyed a very strong day indeed, vaulting 2.23% higher.
Utilities stocks were in demand too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) surging 1.18% higher.
Consumer staples shares ran hot as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) soared 0.96% this Friday.
Financial stocks enjoyed another successful session, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.73% jump.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't left out either. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) ran 0.55% higher by the closing bell.
Mining shares picked up some buyers, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) galloping up 0.33%.
Healthcare stocks followed miners. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) had lifted 0.17% by the end of trading.
Finally, industrial shares eked out a gain, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.02% bump.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out on top of the index this Friday was healthcare share Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC). Ramsay stock flew up 5.89% this Friday to close at $38.30.
This sizeable gain came despite no price-sensitive news out from the company.
Here's the rest of today's top performers: