Welcome back for our first daily wrap and top ten shares countdown for 2026. It was an exceptionally lukewarm start to the first full trading week of the year, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rising by just 0.0092% (or 0.8 points).
That leaves the ASX 200 at 8,728.6 points.
This timid Monday for the ASX follows a mixed end to the first day of 2026 trading for the American markets on Saturday morning (our time).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) put on a decent show, rising 0.66%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky though, dropping 0.027%.
But let's get back to this week and the local markets now, and check out how the various ASX sectors navigated today's trading conditions.
Winners and losers
Despite the broader market's rise, there were plenty of sectors that went backwards today.
Leading those losers were tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a horrid start to the week, crashing 2.58% lower.
Consumer discretionary stocks were also left out in the cold, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) cratering 1.63%.
Communications shares were shunned, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) plunged 1.43% today.
Things improved slightly for real estate investment trusts (REITs), though, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.68% dive.
Consumer staples stocks came in after REITs. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) saw its value drop 0.49%.
Next up were energy shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) declining 0.39%.
Industrial stocks had a rough time, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) retreated 0.21% this Monday.
Financial shares couldn't stick the landing either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.17% slide.
Our final losers this session were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) slipped by 0.06% by the close of trading.
Let's turn to the far fewer green sectors now. Today's gains were spearheaded by mining stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) shooting 1.74% higher.
Gold shares did rather well, too. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) banked a 1.54% surge this Monday.
Finally, utilities stocks managed to ride out the storm, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.06% nudge higher.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
Coming out on top this Monday was energy stock Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN). Paladin shares had a blowout, galloping 7.11% higher to $10.85 a share.
There wasn't any news out of Paladin itself this session. However, my Fool colleague explained why uranium miners were in demand today here.
Here's the rest of today's best: