Explore the S&P/ASX Index ecosystem
Introduction
April 3, 2025, marks 25 years since the S&P/ASX 200, S&P/ASX 300 and the wider S&P/ASX Index Series launched. Australian society has undergone considerable change in that time, as has its capital markets landscape. At the turn of the millennium, mobile phone and internet use were becoming more common but still not ubiquitous. In November 2000, only 56% of Australian households had access to a computer at home and 61% had a mobile phone.
A quarter of a century later, well-known companies and brands such as Ansett Airlines, Fairfax Media, HIH Insurance and OneTel are among many others that no longer exist, while new brands such as Virgin Australia, Fortescue, Chemist Warehouse, Guzman Y Gomez and Seek are the new household names on the ASX. With mergers, acquisitions, delistings, disruptions and fast-paced technological advancements, the makeup of the S&P/ASX 200 has evolved while also growing in size considerably.
S&P/ASX Indices Have Played a Vital Role in the Growth of ETFs and Index-Based Investing
On April 3, 2000, the first S&P/ASX investable market indices for benchmarking and performance measurement were made available to the investment community. The S&P/ASX Index Series has since served as the foundation for the growth of index-based investing in Australia and the adoption of low-cost, index-based investment strategies.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have proven to be a popular vehicle for investing in index-based strategies, and it was not long after the launch of the S&P/ASX Index Series that the first ASX-listed ETFs were launched by State Street Global Advisors in 2001. ETF listings in Australia have grown significantly since 2001, with 48 passive and active funds launched in 2024. There are now over 400 ETFs listed in Australia with assets in excess of AUD 225 billion.
Today, the S&P/ASX Index Series remains at the core of the Australian ETF industry. As of Dec. 31, 2024, domestic equity-focused ETFs listed in Australia had attracted AUD 58 billion in investments, of which 62% (AUD 37 billion) were based on S&P/ASX Indices. In addition, the top three Australian ETFs by assets under management are linked to S&P/ASX Indices and are among those with the best trading spreads and liquidity in the market. See the Appendix for a list of passive ETFs listed in Australia that are linked to S&P DJI indices.
