As investors become more aware of different investment opportunities, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has steadily expanded the range of funds and assets that it is prepared to list.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are just like conventional managed funds except that you can buy and sell them directly on the ASX and hold them in your broking account rather than via a wrap platform or master trust. There are currently 90 ETFs on the stock market which can provide investors with exposure to international shares (including emerging markets), international and domestic bonds, gold, silver, crude oil, grains and even currencies.
Some of the more popular ones are listed below.
| Product | ASX Code | Fees (%pa) | Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| iShares S&P Global 100 | IOO | 0.40 | Six-monthly |
| iShares S&P Asia 50 | IAA | 0.50 | Quarterly |
| iShares S&P 500 | IVV | 0.09 | Six-monthly |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets | IEM | 0.67 | Six-monthly |
| iShares MSCI BRIC | IBK | 0.67 | Six-monthly |
| iShares MSCI Taiwan | ITW | 0.59 | Six-monthly |
| iShares MSCI South Korea | IKO | 0.59 | Six-monthly |
| iShares MSCI China 25 | IZZ | 0.72 | Quarterly |
| iShares UBS Composite Bond | IAF | 0.24 | Quarterly |
| iShares UBS Treasury | IGB | 0.26 | Quarterly |
| iShares UBS Government Inflation | ILB | 0.26 | Quarterly |
| Vanguard Aust Fixed Interest | VAF | 0.20 | Quarterly |
| Vanguard Aust Government Bond | VGB | 0.20 | Quarterly |
| Vanguard Aust Shares High Yield | VHY | 0.25 | Quarterly |
| Vanguard Aust Large Companies | VLC | 0.20 | Quarterly |
| Vanguard Aust Small Companies | VSO | 0.30 | Six-monthly |