The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a slow start to the trading week this Monday.

By market close today, the ASX 200 had risen by an anaemic 0.025% after spending most of the day in negative territory. That leaves the index at a flat 8,423 points.

This uncertain start to the Australian week comes after a mixed finish to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) finished its week on a low, falling 0.28%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) more than made up for that, shooting 0.82% higher.

Let's return to this week and our local markets by examining what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors this Monday.

Winners and losers

We had more green sectors today than red.

Leading those red sectors though were energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had a horrid start to the week, tanking 1.05%.

Broader mining stocks were also out of favour, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) dropping 0.41%.

Tech shares didn't fare too much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) slumped 0.38%.

But that's it for the losers.

It was consumer discretionary stocks that led the winners higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) enjoying a 0.64% surge.

Communications stocks fared decently too. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifted 0.36%.

Following communications, we had real estate investment trusts (REITs), illustrated by the 0.3% rise in the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ).

Healthcare stocks performed identically, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) also crawling 0.3% higher.

Industrial shares came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) bounced up 0.23%.

Consumer staples stocks had a positive day too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) increasing by 0.17%.

Financial shares were more muted. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) rose by just 0.09%.

Gold stocks managed to eke out a gain as well, as you can see from the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 0.05% bump.

Utilities shares were our final winners. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value tick up by 0.05%.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Leading today's winners was audio technology company Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8)

Audinate shares vaulted a comfortable 3.85% higher today to finish at $8.10 each. This move comes despite no obvious catalysts out of the company itself this Monday.

Here's a look at the other winners from today's trading: