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'll find 2 indices which are tracked by ETFs.

Alternatively, you can invest in indices on the Pacific region.

0.40% p.a. - 0.50% p.a.
annual total expense ratio (TER) of Australia ETFs
on the Australian stock market, which are tracked by ETFs
on the Australian stock market
 
The best indices for Australia ETFs

Performance of Australian stocks (S&P/ASX 200)

1 month: 0.74%
1 year: 5.98%
3 years: 17.11%
5 years: 40.55%

Indices in comparison

The best indices for ETFs on Australia

For an investment in the Australian stock market, there are 2 indices available which are tracked by 4 ETFs. On the MSCI Australia index there are 2 ETFs. 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 2 ETFs 58
(29/02/2024)
The MSCI Australia index tracks large and mid cap companies from Australia.
Index factsheet

S&P/ASX 200

Australia 2 ETFs 200
(30/11/2022)
The S&P/ASX 200 index tracks the 200 largest and most actively traded Australian companies.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m GBP
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares MSCI Australia UCITS ETFIE00B5377D42 332 0.50% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Amundi Australia S&P/ASX 200 UCITS ETF DistLU0496786905 66 0.40% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Xtrackers S&P/ASX 200 UCITS ETF 1DLU0328474803 48 0.50% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
UBS ETF (IE) MSCI Australia UCITS ETF (AUD) A-disIE00BD4TY345 46 0.40% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
S&P/ASX 200 1.12% 8.69% 9.88% 1.80% 19.53%
MSCI Australia 1.47% 9.56% 11.29% 3.66% 23.38%
Index   2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
2021
in %
2020
in %
S&P/ASX 200 -2.14% 6.62% 3.26% 10.46% 7.29%
MSCI Australia -1.56% 8.11% 5.69% 10.37% 4.80%

Source: justETF.com; As of 29/02/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

 
Alternative investment opportunities

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 3 Pacific indices tracked by 9 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on the Pacific region is between 0.10% p.a. and 0.60% p.a..

 
Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description
FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan Asia Pacific
Australia: 46.24%
(30/11/2022)
2 ETFs 399
(31/08/2023)
The FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks large and mid cap stocks from developed countries in the Asia Pacific region excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI Pacific ex Japan Asia Pacific
Australia: 63.99%
(30/11/2022)
6 ETFs 119
(29/02/2024)
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
Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap Asia Pacific
Australia: 61.90%
(30/11/2022)
1 ETF 152
(31/08/2023)
The Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap index tracks large and mid cap stocks from developed countries in the Asia Pacific region (excluding Japan). The index excludes companies that are engaged in pure coal mining, controversial weapons or, for a continuous period of three years, have violated the UN Global Compact principles.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m GBP
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares Core MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B52MJY50 2,130 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF DistributingIE00B9F5YL18 808 0.15% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SG8Z57 357 0.15% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
L&G Asia Pacific ex Japan Equity UCITS ETFIE00BFXR5W90 319 0.10% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (USD) AccumulatingIE00BK5BQZ41 247 0.15% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B4WXJD03 149 0.60% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Pacific (ex Japan) UCITS ETF (USD) A-disLU0446734526 63 0.14% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Amundi MSCI Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF DistLU1220245556 12 0.12% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000SGVQIZ9 9 0.15% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap 1.23% 5.69% 4.90% -3.91% 4.90%
MSCI Pacific ex Japan 1.34% 6.53% 5.82% -2.80% 7.65%
FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan 2.99% 5.54% 5.53% 0.84% 1.49%
Index   2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
2021
in %
2020
in %
FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan -2.72% 5.04% -2.11% 2.30% 14.84%
Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap -2.67% -0.49% 5.71% 4.44% 4.41%
MSCI Pacific ex Japan -2.43% 0.50% 5.24% 5.98% 2.92%

Source: justETF.com; As of 29/02/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.