How to invest in Australia using ETFs
How do I invest in Australian stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole Australian stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the Australian stock market you find 2 indices, which are tracked by ETFs.
Alternatively, you can invest in indices on the Pacific region. In these indices the weight of Australia varies. The MSCI Pacific contains less than 20% Australia, whereas the MSCI Pacific ex Japan weights Australia with around 55%.
Performance of Australian stocks (S&P/ASX 200)
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on Australia
For an investment in the Australian stock market, 2 indices tracked by 3 ETFs are available. On the MSCI Australia index there is 1 ETF. On the S&P/ASX 200 index there are 2 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.40% p.a. and 0.50% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI Australia |
Australia | 1 ETF | 64 (31/07/20) |
The MSCI Australia index tracks large and mid cap companies from Australia.
Index factsheet |
S&P/ASX 200 |
Australia | 2 ETFs | 202 (30/06/20) |
The S&P/ASX 200 index tracks the 200 largest and most actively traded Australian companies.
Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m EUR |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI Australia UCITS ETFIE00B5377D42 | 218 | 0.50% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers S&P/ASX 200 UCITS ETF 1DLU0328474803 | 56 | 0.50% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Lyxor Australia (S&P/ASX 200) UCITS ETF - DistLU0496786905 | 55 | 0.40% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Australia | -1.29% | 7.09% | -16.33% | -13.83% | 0.55% | |
| S&P/ASX 200 | -0.40% | 8.12% | -14.43% | -12.05% | 2.65% |
| Index | 2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
2016 in % |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Australia | -16.01% | 24.85% | -8.13% | 5.14% | 14.64% | |
| S&P/ASX 200 | -14.25% | 24.22% | -8.60% | 5.89% | 13.44% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/07/20; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best Australia ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | Xtrackers S&P/ASX 200 UCITS ETF 1D | -12.05% |
| 2 | Lyxor Australia (S&P/ASX 200) UCITS ETF - Dist | -12.30% |
| 3 | iShares MSCI Australia UCITS ETF | -13.83% |
The cheapest Australia ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Lyxor Australia (S&P/ASX 200) UCITS ETF - Dist | 0.40% p.a. |
| 2 | iShares MSCI Australia UCITS ETF | 0.50% p.a. |
| 3 | Xtrackers S&P/ASX 200 UCITS ETF 1D | 0.50% p.a. |
Pacific indices with a large share of Australia
Besides Australia ETFs, there are a number of ETFs on the Pacific stock markets with Australia exposure. In total, you can invest in 2 Pacific indices tracked by 8 ETFs. The MSCI Pacific ex Japan Index has the largest share of Australian companies with 57.41%. The MSCI Pacific Index contains 18.69% Australia (as of 31/12/2019). The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on the Pacific region is between 0.12% p.a. and 0.60% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Pacific | Asia Pacific
Australia: 18.69% (31/12/2019) |
1 ETF | 453 (31/07/20) |
The MSCI Pacific index tracks the equity markets of the developed markets in the Pacific region.
Index factsheet |
| MSCI Pacific ex Japan | Asia Pacific
Australia: 57.41% (31/12/2019) |
7 ETFs | 133 (31/07/20) |
The MSCI Pacific index tracks the equity markets of the developed markets in the Pacific region excluding Japan (Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand).
Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m EUR |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Core MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B52MJY50 | 1,568 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF 1CLU0322252338 | 417 | 0.45% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi Index MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF DR EUR (C)LU1602144906 | 192 | 0.45% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B4WXJD03 | 152 | 0.60% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| ComStage MSCI Pacific UCITS ETFLU0392495023 | 139 | 0.45% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Pacific (ex Japan) UCITS ETF (USD) A-disLU0446734526 | 92 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SG8Z57 | 76 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Lyxor MSCI Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF - DistLU1220245556 | 16 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Pacific ex Japan | -3.09% | 2.60% | -15.41% | -15.28% | -0.63% | |
| MSCI Pacific | -5.82% | -1.32% | -14.52% | -8.85% | 1.21% |
| Index | 2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
2016 in % |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Pacific ex Japan | -16.41% | 20.47% | -6.19% | 10.60% | 11.29% | |
| MSCI Pacific | -14.64% | 22.15% | -8.91% | 8.96% | 7.63% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/07/20; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.