ASX is marking 25 years since it became home to Australia’s first exchange traded funds (ETFs), a milestone that helped reshape how Australian investors access markets, build portfolios and invest for the future.
State Street Investment Management, Australia’s largest asset manager1 and the third largest ETF provider globally2, helped launch
Australia’s ETF market with its first ETFs on ASX in August 2001, the State Street® SPDR® S&P®/ASX 200 ETF (STW) and State Street® SPDR® S&P®/ASX 50 ETF (SFY). Since listing, the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in STW and SFY has grown substantially, reaching $70,889 and $68,544 respectively as of 31 July 2026.
Over that period, ETFs have moved from a relatively unfamiliar investment structure to a mainstream part of Australia’s listed investment market. At the end of July 2026, there were 457 ETFs listed on ASX with more than $360 billion in assets, following a record FY26 in which 72 new ETFs were listed, the highest annual total to date.
Investor choice has also expanded significantly. Approximately 26% of ASX-listed ETFs now provide exposure to Australian shares, 49% to international shares, and 25% to other asset classes and strategies, including fixed income, cash and commodities such as gold. ETF trading activity increased 26% year on year in FY26, ahead of the 22% growth in overall equity market trading activity over the same period.
State Street now has 19 ETF products listed on ASX, representing approximately $12.8 billion in assets as of 10 August 2026.
ASX Senior Manager, Investment Products, Rory Cunningham said:
“ETFs have changed the way Australian investors access markets, giving them simple, transparent and cost-effective exposure to a wide range of asset classes and investment strategies through the exchange.
“What began with a small number of products has grown into a deep and mature market, supported by strong investor demand, issuer innovation and the scale and liquidity of ASX.
“This milestone is an opportunity to recognise State Street’s role in helping to launch ETFs in Australia, while also celebrating the broader growth of the ETF market on ASX over the past 25 years.”
Jonathan Shead, Head of Investments, Australia, State Street Investment Management, said:
“When the first ETFs were launched on ASX 25 years ago, we knew they were an important innovation, but I don’t think any of us fully appreciated how widely they would be adopted by financial advisers and everyday investors.
“There was a significant amount of work required to bring the first ETFs to the market, from fund structures and tax settings to listing rules and investor education.
“The market has come a long way since then, and ASX has played an important role in supporting the growth of ETFs as a trusted and accessible investment structure.”
ASX is also continuing to support investor education as ETF adoption grows, with a special 25-year edition article, providing practical information on how ETFs work and how they can be used in a portfolio.
Later this year, ASX will release its 2026 Australian Investor Study, one of the most comprehensive looks at how Australians are investing, with fresh insights into generational change, investor behaviour and the trends shaping the next phase of Australia’s listed investment market. The findings will highlight a market that continues to evolve, and how ETFs are playing a growing role in helping Australians diversify their portfolios and participate in local and global markets.
- Source: Rainmaker Wholesale Advantage Report, as of 31 September 2025.
- Source: “The Largest Money Managers 2026.” Pensions & Investments, 15 June 2026. Report issued annually; total worldwide assets as of December 31, 2025.
