The S&P/ASX 200 index, the most prominent index of stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), lost over one fifth of its value between the end of February and the end of March 2020, owing to the economic impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It has since recovered, and surpassed its pre-corona level in April 2021. Despite fluctuations, it reached its highest value in January 2025 at 8532.3 during this period.The S&P/ASX 200 index is considered the benchmark index for the Australian share market and contains the 200 largest companies listed on the ASX.

The average value of daily trades on Australian equity markets jumped sharply in the first quarter of 2020, increasing from around 6.5 billion Australian dollars in the previous quarter to over 9.4 billion Australian dollars. While this spike was likely due to the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, values did not return back to their trend value for the previous two years. While the quarterly average between Q1 2017 and Q4 2019 was around 6.4 billion U.S. dollars, the average between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2024 was over eight billion Australian dollars. In general, between 80 and 85 percent of these the total values traded was on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with the remainder being on the Chi-X Australia platform, which is operated by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE).

The main stock market index in Australia (ASX200) decreased 241 points or 2.95% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Australia. Australia Stock Market Index - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

While the average number of daily trades on Australian equity markets has generally increased since 2017, this growth has not been linear. From an average of 1.4 million trades per day in the first quarter of 2017, this figure had increased to two million trades per day by the first quarter of 2024. For all periods reported, between 70 and 75 percent of these trades were on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with the remainder being on the Chi-X Australia platform, which is operated by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE).

Bank return on equity (%, before tax) in Australia was reported at 13.48 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Bank return on equity (%, before tax) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

A list of the top 20 companies on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), ranked by market capitalization.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) led the four major banks in Australia in 2024, reporting the highest return on average equity of 13.1 percent. One of the largest Australian company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, CBA also operates in New Zealand, Asia, and the United Kingdom.

Bank return on equity (%, after tax) in Australia was reported at 9.9136 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Bank return on equity (%, after tax) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

In May 2024, over six million options were traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). This is above the monthly average of around 5.5 million recorded since January 2020, and an increase from the 5.18 million recorded in the previous month. However, The ASX options market is much lower than the volume of futures traded on the ASX. Options and futures are similar in that they are both financial derivatives that provide an investor the ability to buy (or sell) a financial asset for an agreed price at a certain point in time, but they differ in that futures require that the transaction take place, whereas options do not. Options and the coronavirus pandemic Coinciding with the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the volume of options traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) spiked in March 2020. It is notable that the spike in terms of the value of options traded was much greater than in terms of volume. It is also notable that the majority of the spike in this month came from call options - which enable the option holder to purchase a financial instrument (like shares) for an agreed price at a date in the future. By contrast, put options enable holders to sell a financial instrument at an agreed value in the future. This suggests that the increased value for this month was driven by investors trying to capitalize on the pandemic by locking in lower prices for the future, with the (correct) assumption that prices would rise again in the following months. How is the value of derivatives calculated? Calculating the value of derivatives is different to an item like shares, in that derivatives contracts do not include the underlying asset price. Both options and futures are contracts which provide the ability to purchase a financial asset in the future for an agreed price – meaning the purchase of the contract does not include the purchasing of the asset itself. Generally, the ‘notional value’ is used to calculate the value of derivatives – which includes both the cost of the contract itself as well as the underlying asset. Note how options do not require the transaction take place, but yet the value of transaction is included. This one reason behind why, for example, banks in the U.S. and banks in the UK can hold derivates that are well above the national gross domestic product of their respective countries.

The average market risk premium in Australia, that is, the difference between the expected return on a market portfolio and the risk-free rate, remained at six percent in 2016. This economic indicator is used by investors to determine the expected return on high risk investments, thereby making it important for company valuations and asset allocation decisions.

Australia’s robust economy

Australia recently entered its 28th consecutive year of economic growth, backing confidence in the country’s economy. As of the fourth quarter of 2018, the total value of funds under management in Australia amounted to around 2.1 trillion Australian dollars. The market capitalization of listed domestic companies reached a 17-year peak in 2017, indicating a strong valuation of Australian companies. In terms of startups, the number of new investments has been on the rise since the 2015 fiscal year.

International investment

The United States is the leading economic partner of Australia in terms of trade and investment. Responsible for the largest direct investment in Australia, the U.S. has continued to increase its investment in the country over the past years. With regard to industries, the mining and quarrying industry has attracted the most foreign direct investment in Australia.

In 2024, the average exchange rate from Australian dollar to Singapore dollar amounted to approximately 0.88, meaning that one Australian dollar could buy 0.88 Singapore dollar. This was the lowest value over the past decade. The rate peaked in 2017, when one Australian dollar could buy 1.06 Singapore dollars.

As of December 2024, U.S. stocks had an average 10-year return rate of 13.1 percent, whereas gold had a return rate of 8.33 percent. Gold mining overview In light of recent technological advancements shaping the gold mining market, global gold production has been rather stable in the last few years, hovering around 3,000 metric tons since 2020. Among nations, Australia holds the highest gold production, surpassing countries with the highest mine gold reserves. Gold as a financial security Known for its ability to provide diversification to investment portfolios, gold has exhibited a positive trend in its Gold’s return rate was particularly high in the early 2000s, and, despite experiencing a decline during the pandemic, it demonstrated a remarkable recovery since. Furthermore, gold serves as a valuable asset for a nation's economic stability, with the United States holding the highest amount of

‘System cash position’ is an estimate of the change in the aggregate level of Exchange Settlement (ES) balances at the RBA, prior to the RBA’s open market operations on that day. A negative value indicates a projected fall in the level of ES balances, while a positive value indicates a projected rise. The estimate is based on information about settlements arising from transactions by the RBA’s clients, including the Australian Government, as well as the RBA’s own transactions, and is announced at 9:30 am each trading day.

‘Outright transactions’ is the cash value of purchases and sales, conducted as part of the Bank’s open market operations, of securities issued by the Australian Government and State and Territory central borrowing authorities with remaining terms to maturity up to around 18 months. A positive value indicates the RBA has purchased securities while a negative value indicates the RBA has sold securities.

‘Foreign exchange swaps’ is the aggregate value of the first leg of foreign exchange swaps transacted for same-day value specifically for domestic liquidity management purposes. A positive value indicates the RBA has sold Australian dollars for foreign currency while a negative value indicates the RBA has purchased Australian dollars. The value of the second leg of a foreign exchange swap is captured in the ‘System cash position’ on the unwind date.

‘Repurchase agreements (RPs)’ is the amount of the first leg of securities bought/sold by the RBA under repurchase agreement (RP). 'General Collateral' refers to eligible eligible securities issued by the Australian Government, State and Territory governments, supranational institutions, foreign governments and government agencies as well as eligible securities with a sovereign government guarantee. ‘Private securities’ covers all other eligible collateral, including ADI-issued securities (eligible bank-issued discount securities and certificates of deposit with 12 months or less to maturity and bonds issued by ADIs), asset-backed securities (eligible residential mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed commercial paper) and eligible commercial paper. A positive value indicates the RBA has purchased securities under RPs while a negative value indicates the RBA has sold securities under RPs. It does not include RPs which are transacted through the RBA’s overnight RP facility. The value of the second leg of all RPs is captured in the ‘System cash position’ on the respective value dates.

‘Exchange Settlement account balances (end day)’ is the aggregate of all ES balances held at the RBA at the close of business. Unexpected movements in ES balances and overnight RPs transacted through the RBA’s overnight RP facility mean that ‘Exchange Settlement account balances (end day)’ will not necessarily be the sum of the previous day’s ‘Exchange Settlement account balances (end day)’, the ‘System cash position’ and the total of ‘Open market operations’ transacted.

‘Overnight repurchase agreements with RBA’ is the aggregate of the first leg of securities bought by the RBA through the overnight RP facility. These data are updated with a one month lag.

Outright Transaction Details

The 'Outright Transactions Details' sheet provides further information on the outright purchases and sales of Bonds and Discount Securities issued by the Australian Commonwealth, State & Territory Governments, conducted as part of the Bank's open market operations. “Issuer” is the acronym of the issuer of the bond/security. A positive “Face value dealt” indicates a purchase while a negative value indicates a sale. 'Weighted average rate' is the average of the rates dealt for each bond/security, weighted by the amount transacted. 'Cut-off rate' is the lowest yield accepted.

Repo Details

The Repo Details sheets provide a summary of the type of securities delivered to/by the RBA under RP at each term dealt through the open market operations. 'Govt and Quasi-Govt Repo Details' covers repo against General Collateral (eligible securities issued by the Australian Government, State and Territory governments, supranational institutions, foreign governments and government agencies as well as eligible securities with a sovereign government guarantee). ‘Private securities’ covers all other eligible collateral, including ADI-issued securities (eligible bank-issued discount securities and certificates of deposit with 12 months or less to maturity and bonds issued by ADIs), asset-backed securities (eligible residential mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed commercial paper) and eligible commercial paper.

'Term' is the number of days dealt in open market operations.

'Value Dealt' is the amount of the first leg of securities bought/sold by the RBA under RP.

Weighted average rate' is the is the average of the rates on RPs dealt by the RBA through open market operations, weighted by the amount transacted.

'Cut-off rate' is the lowest rate dealt by the RBA through open market operations for each term dealt.

Repo Unwinds

The Repos Unwinds sheet provides a summary of the value of repurchase agreements due to unwind in the future, for both General Collateral and Private Securities. The unwind amount is equal to the sum of the total value dealt to that date plus accrued interest.

Overview Since 2007 ABARES has conducted an annual survey of vegetable-growing farm businesses to provide industry and government with information about farm-level production and the financial …Show full descriptionOverview Since 2007 ABARES has conducted an annual survey of vegetable-growing farm businesses to provide industry and government with information about farm-level production and the financial situation of vegetable growers. These web-reports present estimates of farm financial performance, farm debt, farm equity, farm capital and farm investment for the vegetable-growing industry from 2006-07 to 2016-17. Key Issues • The total value of capital for Australian vegetable-growing farms decreased by 15 per cent in real terms from 2006-07 to 2015-16 because of a reduction in the number of vegetable-growing farms. Nevertheless, Australian vegetable growers made an average of $271 million in new capital investment each year from 2006-07 to 2015-16 (in 2016-17 dollars). On a per farm basis, average total capital increased by 35 per cent to around $4.5 million per farm.

Overview \r This report presents the detailed financial performance of beef cattle producing farms in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, and discusses incomes, investment, farm debt, and costs of beef production in a historical context. The report draws on data from the ABARES annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey (AAGIS). The report was commissioned by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) \r \r This report is a collation of chapters that have been previously published online. \r \r Farm financial performance (published 18 May 2017) \r This chapter presents estimates of the incomes, profits, costs and rates of return for beef farms. \r Key Issues \r Average farm cash income of Australian beef farms is projected to increase by around 10 per cent in 2016-17 to $204,000 per farm. Farm cash income in 2016-17 is projected to be the highest in over 20 years, an estimated 108 per cent higher than the average between 2000-01 and 2015-16 (in real terms*). The expected increase in incomes is a result of higher beef cattle prices. \r \r * Note: real dollar values are adjusted to remove the effect of inflation. \r \r Farm debt and equity (published 12 July 2017) \r This chapter presents estimates of the debt, equity, and debt-servicing capacity for beef farms. \r Key Issues \r Average farm debt of Australian beef farms is estimated to have increased by around 9 per cent to $497,000 in 2015-16 (in 2016-17 dollars). Average farm debt for beef farms is projected to decrease slightly in 2016-17. The average equity ratio of beef farms has remained steady at around 90 per cent from 2000-01 to 2015-16. The proportion of farm receipts needed to fund interest payments is projected to be around 6 per cent in 2016-17. \r \r Farm capital and investment (published 8 August 2017) \r This chapter presents estimates of farm capital and farm investment for beef farms. \r Key Issues \r The total value of capital for Australian beef farms increased by around 55 per cent in real terms from 2000-01 to 2015-16. On a per farm basis, total capital increased by 98 per cent to an estimated $5.4 million per farm in 2015-16. The average value of land and fixed improvements per hectare for beef farms increased by 105 per cent from 2000-01 to 2015-16, with an average annual return on land appreciation of 5.2 per cent. \r \r Physical characteristics (published 9 November 2017) \r This chapter presents estimates of physical characteristics for beef farms. \r Key Issues \r From 2000-01 to 2015-16 the total number of Australian beef farms fell by 22 per cent. Most of the decline was in the Southern region with the number of beef farms in the Northern region remaining relatively unchanged. Over the period, the total number of beef cattle in the Northern region increased while the number of cattle in the Southern region remained relatively steady. \r \r Cost of production (published 28 September 2017) \r This chapter presents and discusses cost of production estimates for beef farms. \r Key Issues \r Over the three years to 2015-16 the average total cost of beef production was similar in northern and southern Australia, at 193 cents per kilogram live weight in northern Australia and 199 cents in southern Australia. The on-farm per kilogram live weight cost of beef production increased between 2013-14 and 2015-16. Higher beef cattle prices in 2014-15 and 2015-16 resulted in operating margins increasing relative to the very low margins recorded in 2013-14. Total costs of production per kilogram in southern and northern Australia declined as herd size increased. Small beef farms (with less than 400 beef cattle) generally covered their cash operating costs. However, most did not cover capital depreciation or the value of unpaid owner-manager, partner and family labour. \r \r Average on-farm per kilogram live weight cost of beef production declined over the three years to 2016–17.

Average daily turnover of the Australian dollar on global foreign exchange (forex) markets increased by over 400 percent from 2001 to 2019. In total - covering both spot transactions and forex derivatives like swaps forwards and options - the average daily turnover as of April 2019 amounted to 446.51 billion U.S. dollars. The forex - or foreign exchange market - turnover per day is a figure that is not often measured, only once every three years. No figures are available for 2020, for instance.

Key information about Australia Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities

• Australia Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities increased by 5.0 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with a drop of 9.6 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• Australia Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities data is updated quarterly, available from Sep 1988 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 49.9 USD bn in Mar 2022 and a record low of -27.9 USD bn in Dec 2004.

CEIC converts quarterly Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities into USD. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides quarterly Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Iron Ore decreased 1.36 USD/MT or 1.31% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Iron Ore - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

In Australia, sub-regional retail property had the highest average market yield in the first quarter of 2021 at about 6.85 percent. The neighborhood retail property had a market yield of about 6.15 percent.

This statistic illustrates the average market risk premium used for selected countries worldwide in 2024. The average market risk premium used in Turkey was the highest and reached a value of 16.5 percent in that year.