An Affinity for Australia ETFs as Inflows Continue
Rebounding commodities prices and an accomodative central bank are combining to make the iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA) one of the more solid performers this year among single-country exchange traded funds tracking developed markets.
Investors are starting to take notice as highlighted by a recent deluge of inflows to Australia ETFs trading in the U.S. Like so many developed market central banks, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been actively reducing borrowing costs in recent years. Australia’s benchmark lending rate is currently 2%. That is a record low for the world’s 12th-largest economy, but high by the standards of the rest of the developed world.
Related: Aussie Dollar ETF Under Pressure
The CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust (FXA) , which tracks the Aussie against the U.S. dollar, is off nearly 6% over the past month. FXA could be increasingly vulnerable as the monetary policies of the Fed and the Reserve Bank of Australia continue diverging. RBA recently cut Australia’s benchmark interest rates to a record low.
Looking ahead, most economists anticipate a second cut before the end of the year, with the June quarter inflation figure, which comes out in August, providing further guidance on the RBA’s path. Expectations of more RBA rate cuts could be stoking inflows to EWA and rival Australia ETFs.
Trending on ETF Trends
At Risk Sector ETFs in a Brexit Vote
Hot ETF Options to Track Popular Hedge Fund Positions
How the ETF Marketplace Continues to Innovate
ETF Liquidity: 3 Sources That Affect Trading Strategy
Traders Turn Bearish On Financials ETF
“U.S. listed exchange-traded funds poured a record $250 million into Australia last week. The rebound in commodities prices since early this year, coupled with easy monetary policy, may be attracting traders and investors to the mining-rich nation. Year to date, inflows into Australia ETFs totalled $1.4 billion, compared to outflows of $5.6 billion from Japan and $1.2 billion from China,” according to Bloomberg.
There is perhaps more competition in the U.S.-listed Australia ETF space than many investors realize as options expand well beyond EWA.
The SPDR MSCI Australia Quality Mix ETF (QAUS) emphasizes the quality factor, which captures excess returns to stocks that are characterized by low debt, stable earnings growth and other ‘quality’ metrics. Lastly, the First Trust Australia AlphaDEX Fund (FAUS) selects Australian companies based on growth factors including 3-, 6- and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one year sales growth, along with value factors including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets.
Related: Down Under Opportunity
Thanks to comparatively high interest rates, Australia ETFs like EWA sport enticing dividend yields, which can help investors generate current income while expanding the international portions of their portfolios. EWA has a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 6%, or nearly triple the comparable yield on the S&P 500.
Click here to read more ETF news, strategy and commentary on ETF Trends.
iShares MSCI Australia ETF
