It was another miserable session this Friday to put an end to what has been an even more miserable trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and ASX investors.
By the time trading wrapped up this session, the ASX 200 had crashed 1.59% lower, leaving the index at a depressing 8,416.5 points as we head into the weekend.
This rather horrid Friday for Australian investors follows a similarly downbeat Thursday for the US markets across the early hours of this morning.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) suffered a 0.84% swing against it.
Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling a nasty 2.15%.
But let's return to the ASX boards now and take a look at how the various ASX sectors traversed today's tough trading conditions.
Winners and losers
There were only two sectors that were spared from a loss this Friday. But more on those later.
Firstly, it was gold stocks that were targeted the most brutally today. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up plunging 4.81%.
Broader mining shares had a rough time too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking 3.93%.
Continuing the commodities theme, energy stocks didn't escape intact. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) cratered by 3.11% by the closing bell.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) suffered immensely as well, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 1.97% dive.
We could say the same for consumer discretionary shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) endured a 1.27% slump this session.
Tech stocks weren't too popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) sinking 1.03%.
Utilities shares were right behind tech. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) dipped 1.02% by the closing bell.
Industrial stocks were also in that ballpark, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 1% drop.
Financial shares weren't riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slid 0.74% lower today.
Communications stocks were our last losers, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) slipping 0.45%.
Consumer staples shares proved to be a safe haven this Friday, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) ended up lifting by 0.04%.
Finally, healthcare stocks also got out unscathed, although the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) finished the day flat.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming in on top of the index this Friday was investing company GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG). GQG stock managed to ride out today's storm with a healthy 5.18% rise, leaving it at $1.63 a share.
There wasn't any news out of the company, but, as my Fool colleague posited today, perhaps investors were looking for a cheap place to park their cash.
Here's the rest of today's best shares: