It was a calamitous end to a calamitous week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Friday. The ongoing fallout from President Donald Trump's new tariffs once again smashed the ASX 200 today. The index ended up losing a horrid 2.44% by the closing bell to finish at 7,667.8 points as we head into the weekend.
This horrific day for the local market mirrors the carnage that we saw up on Wall Street this morning.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had one of its worst days in years, crashing 3.98% lower.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, freefalling a massive 5.97%.
But let's grit our teeth and return to the ASX now for a damage inspection for the various ASX sectors.
Winners and losers
As you might expect, it was a sea of red on the ASX boards this Friday, with only one sector escaping the maelstrom.
But first, the worst-hit corner of the markets this session was energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was punished today, crashing a painful 8% lower.
Tech stocks were also smashed, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) plunging down 6.42%.
Then we had utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) got a serving too, cratering 4.43%.
Consumer discretionary stocks were on the nose as well, as illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 3.68% tumble.
Financial shares weren't spared. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) saw its value tank by 2.81%.
It wasn't much better for real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) diving 2.25%.
Healthcare stocks also had a rough day. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was sent home 1.95% lighter.
We could say the same for communications shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) losing 1.57% of its value.
Industrial stocks got no reprieve either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 1.46% slide.
Our next losers for today were mining shares, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 1.33% drop.
Gold stocks didn't save investors, either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) retreated 0.27% this Friday.
Our lone green sector today was consumer staples stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was a safe harbour today, rising a confident 2.42%.
Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown
The best stock to hide out today was gold miner Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM). Capricorn stock bucked the market well today, rising 5.22% to $8.47 a share.
This gain came after an ASX broker released a positive note on the gold stock.
Here are the other shares that thrived amid today's chaos: