{"id":91111,"date":"2023-08-04T02:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T02:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/?p=91111"},"modified":"2026-01-22T04:52:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T04:52:02","slug":"what-is-asx200","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 8<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<p>As you deepen your interest in investing, you\u2019ll find that indices play an important role in understanding the Australian market&#8217;s buoyancy (or bearish-ness). But maybe you\u2019ve wondered, <em>what exactly is the ASX 200<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 2,000 individual companies are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"indent-wrapper\"><div class=\"indented-text\"><span>The ASX 200 is an Australian share market index that provides a performance snapshot of Australia&#8217;s key companies. <\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It helps investors identify and observe the leading corporate players that shape our financial landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/etoro-review-australia\/\">eToro Review: Pros, Cons, Fees &amp; Verdict<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is The S&amp;P\/ASX 200 Index?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The S&amp;P\/ASX 200 is an index that tracks the top 200 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange by market capitalisation and liquidity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These companies account for almost 80% of the market\u2019s value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">Launched in 2000, the S&amp;P\/ASX 200 index is now the most trusted benchmark for the Australian equity market\u2019s performance.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It is used by retail and institutional investors, analysts and the media to gauge what\u2019s happening across the market more broadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"indent-wrapper\"><div class=\"indented-text\"><span>The index methodology was created, and continues to be maintained, by S&amp;P Dow Jones.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/how-to-buy-microsoft-msft-stocks-shares\/\">How To Buy Microsoft Shares In Australia<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Is The S&amp;P\/ASX 200 Index So Popular?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Indices like the ASX 200 can provide the basis for investment products such as ETFs, or a point of reference\/comparison for actively managed products designed to replicate or exceed market gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identifiable by the symbol XJO, the ASX 200 index:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>Is weighted by market value and float-adjusted. <\/strong>The ASX calculates market capitalisation by multiplying the previous day\u2019s last traded price of each company\u2019s shares by the total number of securities on issue that are available for public trading.<\/li><li><strong>Is rebalanced quarterly<\/strong>, which means the index creator S&amp;P Dow Jones checks how well the make-up of the index reflects the top 200 companies by market cap and liquidity and adds or removes companies accordingly.<\/li><li><strong>Uses both percentages and points to express changes in its overall value.<\/strong> Price movements of shares tracked by the index may be described as a percentage (or a points) gain or loss. For instance, after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news.com.au\/finance\/markets\/australian-markets\/asx200-jumps-to-100day-high-after-positive-inflation-news\/news-story\/36f565d2dcd0b008f052cd44ec348d00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">news in July that the CPI fell<\/a>, the ASX 200 gained 62.30 points (0.85%), bringing it to 7402.00 points and setting a new 100-day high.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">Float-adjusted means only ordinary shares are included in the market cap calculation, the most common type of security issued to shareholders.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which Companies Are Included In The ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies included in the ASX 200 change over time because fluctuations in share prices affect their market cap. Smaller companies are included and excluded, depending on how their fortunes change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/australian-dollar-forecast\/\">Will The Australian Dollar Rise In 2024?<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, a familiar cadre of Australia&#8217;s most iconic and valuable companies form a permanent presence near the top of the index:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>The \u2018big four\u2019 banks:<\/strong> CBA (ASX: CBA), NAB (ASX: NAB), Westpac (ASX: WBC), and ANZ (ASX: ANZ).<\/li><li><strong>Pharmaceutical and biotech company CSL Limited<\/strong> (ASX: CSL).<\/li><li><strong>Australia&#8217;s premier <\/strong>investment banking and fund management provider: Macquarie Group LTD (ASX: MQG).<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">The 10 largest companies by market cap in the ASX 200 account for almost half of the weight (46.8%). That means the performance of major players has a bigger effect on the overall index performance.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What sectors make up the ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies listed on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marketindex.com.au\/asx-sectors\">ASX are categorised into 11 sectors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"790\" src=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/asx-200-sector-breakdown-1024x790.jpg\" alt=\"asx200 sector breakdown\" class=\"wp-image-91130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/asx-200-sector-breakdown-1024x790.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/asx-200-sector-breakdown-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/asx-200-sector-breakdown-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/asx-200-sector-breakdown-1536x1186.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/asx-200-sector-breakdown.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Defined by the GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard), they can be charted the same way as an ordinary stock, allowing investors to perform technical analysis studies and, theoretically, identify the best opportunities while mitigating risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"indent-wrapper\"><div class=\"indented-text\"><span>Each sector has its own identifier, starting with an &#8220;X&#8221;, that you can use to track its performance.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:19px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">ASX Code<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Sector<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Description<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Examples Of Top Stocks<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Est. % of ASX 200<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XFJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Financials<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Big four banks, insurance, other major lenders.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">CBA, NAB, ASX<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">27.9%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XMJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Materials<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Mining companies, fertiliser and chemical manufacturers.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Orica, Amcor, BHP<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">24.6%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XHJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Health Care<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Pharma, pathology and biotech companies.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">ResMed, CSL and Cochlear<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">9.7%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XNJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Industrials<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Construction, transportation and engineering companies.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Qantas, Transurban<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">7%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XRE<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Real Estate<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Commercial, industrial and residential real estate companies.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Mirvac, LendLease, Westfield<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.1%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XDJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Consumer Discretionary<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">General retail, travel, restaurants &amp; gaming.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Harvey Norman, Crown<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.5%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XEJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Energy<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Explorers and energy producers.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Santos, Woodside<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.1%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XSJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Consumer Staples<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Food and beverage production.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Woolworths, Westfarmers<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">5.3%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XTJXIJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Communication Services<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Carriers, distributors and resellers.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Telstra, Airtasker<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">4.1%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XIJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Information Technology<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Software developers and IT consultancies and distributors.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Dicker Data, Xero<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">2.4%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">XUJ<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Utilities<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Major gas and electricity retailers.<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">AGL, APA Group<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">1.5%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/cheapest-brokerage-in-australia\/\">Cheapest Stock Brokerages In Australia<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why are the GICS sectors important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>GICS sectors provide a framework for grouping Australian companies with similar business activities. This facilitates a more precise view of sector-specific trends which, in turn, aids:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>Portfolio diversification.<\/strong> You can reduce the risk of a downturn within any one sector by spreading investments across various industries or sectors.<\/li><li><strong>Better strategy.<\/strong> You can make better investment decisions by understanding how economic events shape developments in a particular sector. (For example, in the <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/inflation-rate-australia\/\">inflationary, high-interest rate environment of 2024<\/a>, investors may find the consumer staples sector attractive as consumers look for ways to reduce household costs).<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/interest-rate-news\/\">Will The Interest Rates Rise In 2024<\/a>?)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:41px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is The Total Market Capitalisation Of The ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Market cap refers to a stock&#8217;s total market value, calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the trading price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/how-to-invest-in-stocks-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Guide To Investing In Australian Stocks<\/strong><\/a><strong>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The approximate market cap of ALL top 200 companies on the Australian stock market is 2.46 trillion as of July 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>The biggest company <\/strong>in the S&amp;P\/ASX 200 index by market capitalisation is BHP Group ($232b).<\/li><li>The smallest company in the S&amp;P\/ASX 200 index by market capitalisation is Skycity Entertainment Group ($1.6B).<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">A market cap-weighted index reflects equity value rather than <em>real-world value<\/em>. The two might be closely aligned, or the share price might be inflated beyond what a company\u2019s balance sheet would suggest its worth is (e.g., due to strong forecasts or investor demand).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is The ASX 200 Safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You might feel \u2018safer\u2019 investing in the top echelon of companies on the Australian market because many of these companies have a proven track record of generating revenues and profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Thus their higher market capitalisation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">However, a company\u2019s stability or long-term share value isn\u2019t guaranteed by its inclusion in the ASX 200. Global markets rise and fall based on speculation as much as the underlying fundamentals.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are The Best Alternatives To The ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from the ASX 200, the ASX has indices that cover the top 20, 50, 100, 300 and 500 companies by market cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/how-to-trade-futures-in-australia\/\">How To Invest In Futures<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indices based on asset classes, investing strategies, and different sectors are also available (more about these shortly). Globally, well-respected alternatives to the ASX 200 include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Index<\/th><th>What Is It?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>NASDAQ Composite<\/strong><\/td><td>Index of more than 2500 stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>FTSE 100<\/strong><\/td><td>Index of top 100 companies, by market cap, listed on the London Stock Exchange.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>S&amp;P 500<\/strong><\/td><td>Index of top 500 companies in the US, as selected by the S&amp;P Committee.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Dow Jones Industrial Average<\/strong><\/td><td>Index of 30 <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-are-blue-chip-stocks\/\">blue-chip stocks<\/a> in the US.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Nikkei 225<\/strong><\/td><td>Index of 30 blue-chip stocks in the US.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>HANG SENG<\/strong><\/td><td>Index of 60 largest companies that trade on the Hong Kong Exchange.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">To compare returns from the ASX200 to the S&amp;P 500 or NASDAQ, review the underlying index methodologies and composition first. While the ASX 200 is heavy on the financials sector, the top 500 US companies are more diversified and globally significant (e.g., Amazon).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Do Investors Use The ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Retail investors can use the ASX 200 to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>Monitor the market\u2019s movements<\/strong> day-to-day and over time.<\/li><li><strong>Benchmark the performance<\/strong> of their portfolio.<\/li><li><strong>Research investment decisions<\/strong> or guide rebalancing.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, comparing the ASX 200 to other country-wide indices, especially in the dominant US market, can indicate how Australian business conditions are being influenced \u2014 or will be influenced \u2014 by leading global companies and macroeconomics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/average-australian-salary\/\">What Is The Average Salary In Australia?<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also helps investors determine where to invest. For instance, whether you\u2019d be better off allocating more of your portfolio to US shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">The ASX 200 surpassed the ASX All Ordinaries Index (which tracks the top 500 largest companies) as the preeminent index in Australia, primarily because it&#8217;s a more accurate representation of liquid, tradable market value.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is The Best Way To Invest In The S&amp;P\/ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Investing in the ASX 200 is easy. Reputable managed funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track the index, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>SPDR S&amp;P\/ASX 200 Fund<\/strong> (STW).<\/li><li><strong>iShares Core S&amp;P\/ASX 200 ETF<\/strong> (IOZ).<\/li><li><strong>BetaShares Australia 200 ETF<\/strong>\u00a0(ASX:\u00a0A200).<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Index funds or ETFs tracking the ASX 200 offer diversification across 200 holdings with one trade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a popular option among investors looking to hold investments for the long term, as markets have been shown to outperform active fund managers over longer timeframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/how-to-invest-money-in-australia\/\">How To Invest Money In Australia<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You could also buy individual shares of companies in the ASX 200. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">Stock picking gives you control, but it\u2019s less convenient and takes more time to manage than a passive fund or ETF.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:70px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When is the best time to invest?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Given that investing in the ASX 200 is often a long play, you may benefit from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/d\/dollarcostaveraging.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dollar-cost-averaging<\/a> approach. Dollar-cost averaging is a strategy where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>You make regular small payments<\/strong> over a period of time rather than lump sums.<\/li><li><strong>You reduce the average price paid per share\/unit<\/strong> by spreading spending out, limiting the impact of market volatility.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the top reasons to invest in the ASX 200?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>Diversification:<\/strong> Broad market movements may be less volatile than the ups and downs of individual shares.<\/li><li><strong>Low Cost:<\/strong> Index-based ETFs typically have low annual management fees and no minimum investment amounts, making it inexpensive to invest in the ASX 200.<\/li><li><strong>Tax efficiency:<\/strong> Fewer trades mean index funds and ETFs may be more tax efficient, compared to active fund management.<\/li><li><strong>Dividends: <\/strong>Many companies included in the ASX 200 <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/dividend-investing-australia\/\">pay dividends<\/a>, which means investing in the ASX 200 through a fund will deliver income yield as well as capital gains.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/best-share-trading-platform-australia\/\">13 Best Trading Platforms In Australia<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is The Typical Return On ASX 200 Investments?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Australian stocks have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amp.com.au\/insights-hub\/blog\/investing\/olivers-insights-australian-v-global-shares#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">returned around 10%<\/a> over long periods (taking dividends into account) \u2014 making investing in the ASX 200 potentially worthwhile if you plan to invest for years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/asx-200-historical-performance-1024x385.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-97554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/asx-200-historical-performance-1024x385.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/asx-200-historical-performance-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/asx-200-historical-performance-768x288.jpg 768w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/asx-200-historical-performance-1536x577.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/asx-200-historical-performance.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the largest highs and lows of the Australian stock market index?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the most tumultuous periods for the ASX 200\u2019s value included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"arrow-wrapper\"><div class=\"arrow-list\"><ul><li><strong>The Global Financial Crisis of 2008:<\/strong> when the ASX 200 returned minus 38.4 percent for the year.<\/li><li><strong>The COVID-19 pandemic: <\/strong>Early 2020 marked a high of 7,199 points, but the ASX 200 experienced a major downturn once the pandemic struck soon after. It lost more than a third of its value, dropping to 4,800 points. Dire, considering the index\u2019s starting point was 3,331 points back in 2000.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asx.com.au\/blog\/sp-asx-200-index-has-its-20th-anniversary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According to the ASX<\/a>, the index has historically delivered its best returns in the year following a crisis. Evidence of this is that in August 2021, it bounced back to a high of over 7,600 points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of writing, it\u2019s just over 7,400 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:41px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Did The ASX 200 Return Over The Last 10 Years?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Investing in the ASX 200 10 years ago would have netted you <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/spdji\/en\/indices\/equity\/sp-asx-200\/#overview\">8.56% gains<\/a>, which includes capital gains of 4.14%. An investment of $1,000 10 years ago would now be worth $2,273.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reinvesting dividends back in the stock market over the same period would have further compounded gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Important!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">Previous performance is not a predictor of future returns. Consult a professional finance advisor before you buy or sell shares.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When does the ASX open?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The ASX trades Monday &#8211; Friday between 10 am and 4 pm AEST. The ASX is closed on public holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Public Holiday<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Is The ASX Open?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">New Year&#8217;s Day<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Australia Day<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Easter Monday<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Good Friday<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">ANZAC Day<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">King&#8217;s Birthday<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Christmas Day<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Boxing Day<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Final Business Day Before Christmas<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closes Early<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Final Business Day Of The Year<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Closes Early<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Word On Investing In The Australian Securities Exchange.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We hear about share market ups and downs every night on the news. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ASX 200 puts the \u2018market\u2019 in context, because it represents just 10% of publicly-listed companies that collectively account for 80% of the Australian market\u2019s value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/how-to-invest-in-index-funds-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How To Invest In Index Funds<\/strong><\/a><strong>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing what the ASX 200 is \u2014 how it&#8217;s calculated and the companies it comprises \u2014 helps you approach share trading with greater confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-create-block-tip-block tip-wrapper\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-12\"><div class=\"card-wrapper\"><div class=\"card-title\"><div class=\"icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M7.5 14.33a5 5 0 1 1 5 0v4.17h-5v-4.17Zm4.25-1.3-.75.44V17H9v-3.53l-.75-.44a3.5 3.5 0 1 1 3.5 0Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.25 1v2h1.5V1h-1.5ZM5.53 4.47l-1.5-1.5-1.06 1.06 1.5 1.5 1.06-1.06ZM15.53 5.53l1.5-1.5-1.06-1.06-1.5 1.5 1.06 1.06ZM1 10.75h2v-1.5H1v1.5ZM17 10.75h2v-1.5h-2v1.5Z\" fill=\"#656E83\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><h3 placeholder=\"Tip Title Goes Here\">Disclaimer.<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"card-content\"><p placeholder=\"Tip Content Goes Here\">The information presented here is general in nature and does not endorse any investment product, market, provider, or service. It is not intended as financial advice or a recommendation to trade &#8211; or not to trade. Trading futures, shares, ETFs, options, CFDs, and forex involves a high level of risk and may result in significant losses, particularly when leverage is used. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Before trading, consider whether the product is appropriate for your circumstances and seek independent professional advice. Refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) on the provider\u2019s website.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jody<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:49px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 8<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>As you deepen your interest in investing, you\u2019ll find that indices play an important role in understanding the Australian market&#8217;s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":91122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[267,304],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money","category-start-share-trading"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to gain exposure to the ASX 200. Discover how Australia&#039;s benchmark index is calculated and what moves its price.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to gain exposure to the ASX 200. Discover how Australia&#039;s benchmark index is calculated and what moves its price.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Arielle Executive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArielleExecutive\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-04T02:16:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-22T04:52:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1490\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"838\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jody McDonald\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@arielleexec\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@arielleexec\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jody McDonald\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?","description":"Learn how to gain exposure to the ASX 200. Discover how Australia's benchmark index is calculated and what moves its price.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?","og_description":"Learn how to gain exposure to the ASX 200. Discover how Australia's benchmark index is calculated and what moves its price.","og_url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/","og_site_name":"Arielle Executive","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArielleExecutive\/","article_published_time":"2023-08-04T02:16:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-22T04:52:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1490,"height":838,"url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jody McDonald","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@arielleexec","twitter_site":"@arielleexec","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jody McDonald","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/"},"author":{"name":"Jody McDonald","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#\/schema\/person\/ad627358e3d76f0a49b8a918c9f851fb"},"headline":"What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?","datePublished":"2023-08-04T02:16:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-22T04:52:02+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/"},"wordCount":2162,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg","articleSection":["Money","Start Investing"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/","url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/","name":"What Is The ASX 200 And How Does It Work?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg","datePublished":"2023-08-04T02:16:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-22T04:52:02+00:00","description":"Learn how to gain exposure to the ASX 200. Discover how Australia's benchmark index is calculated and what moves its price.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/what-is-asx200\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg","width":1490,"height":838,"caption":"what is asx200"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/","name":"Arielle Executive","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#organization","name":"Arielle Executive","url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/arielle-executive-aex-icon.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/arielle-executive-aex-icon.jpg","width":600,"height":600,"caption":"Arielle Executive"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArielleExecutive\/","https:\/\/x.com\/arielleexec","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/arielle-executive\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#\/schema\/person\/ad627358e3d76f0a49b8a918c9f851fb","name":"Jody McDonald","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jody-mcdonald-96x96.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jody-mcdonald-96x96.png","caption":"Jody McDonald"},"description":"I write about the Australian economy, investing, digital transformation and the future of work. During my 20+ year career, I've reported for Australian business publications and bodies, including Forbes, The Chainsaw and NSW Business Chamber.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/contentquill\/"],"url":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/author\/jody\/"}]}},"modified_by":"Steven McConnell","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg",1490,838,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg",1490,838,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200.jpg",1490,838,false],"alm-thumbnail":["https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/what-is-asx200-150x150.jpg",150,150,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jody McDonald","author_link":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/author\/jody\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Reading Time: 8 minutesAs you deepen your interest in investing, you\u2019ll find that indices play an important role in understanding the Australian market&#8217;s","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91111"}],"version-history":[{"count":99,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":121735,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91111\/revisions\/121735"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}