Australian Stock Exchange

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Definition: Australian Stock Exchange


Australian Stock Exchange

Quick Summary of Australian Stock Exchange


ASX. Former name of the primary stock exchange for Australia. The name changed in 2006 when the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Future Exchange were merged together to form the Australian Securities Exchange. This exchange is where all electronic trades including buy and sell orders are handled. Originally formed in 1987, this exchange combined Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney state stock exchanges.




Full Definition of Australian Stock Exchange


Located in Sydney, Australia, the Australian Stock Exchange (or now more accurately the Australian “Securities” Exchange – ASX) is the leading stock market exchange in Australia and around the 8th largest in the world, having 2014 listed company stocks and a total market cap of $1.098 trillion US Dollar equivalent. In a rare occurrence, the ASX itself is a public company and is listed on its own exchange, with revenue of around $624.38 million as of 2008 data. Although it is still commonly called the Australian Stock Exchange, it merged with the Sydney Futures Exchange in 2006, and thus the name was changed to its current form.

Historically the ASX began life as several different exchanges located in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Launceston; however they began to merge operations as early as 1903. A traditional trading floor and ‘outcry’ method was used, with trades being written on a chalkboard.

Today the ASX operates under a fully electronic system to keep up with modern demand, taking on the click system in 1997. Trading hours on the exchange begin at 7:00 am to 10:00 am for a pre-market session and then from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for the regular trading session. The exchange operates only on weekdays and ceases operation during pre-announced holiday periods.

The prominent market index that tracks the Australian Securities Exchange is the S&P; ASX 200, which ranks the top 200 high cap companies. Like most major indexes the S&P; ASX 200 is used as a benchmark for the whole Australian market as is the primary quoted figure by news outlets and analysts.

Some of the larger cap companies that trade on the ASX include the BHP Billiton, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the National Australia Bank and the Telstra Corporation.


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Definition Sources


Definitions for Australian Stock Exchange are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 28th December, 2021 | 0 Views.