Australia is the 6th largest country in the world by landmass, and its economy is the 13th largest in the world. Its economy is larger than Spain, which has twice the population. It’s a powerhouse in the pacific and is a major player in the global marketplace.

For those looking to diversify their personal investment portfolios here in the US, investing in ASX stocks makes a lot of sense. The continent is full of natural resources, making it a country known for its exports.

It’s home to the largest mining company in the world, and there are more than 300 mines in total across the nation.

Since the world depends on Australia’s resources, it’s a safe bet when choosing a foreign nation to invest in.

Looking to learn more about Australian stocks? Keep reading below for information on investing in the ASX exchange.

ASX Stocks to Consider

BHP is one of the first stocks that foreign investors are drawn to. BHP is the largest mining company in the world, as mentioned earlier.

The company got started in 1885. It made it on the list of the 100 largest companies in the world.

Like wine with your ROI? Then consider Treasury Wine Estates Limited (ASX: TWE.AX).

Based in Melbourne, this winemaker was founded in 1843 and owns a number of prominent wine brands. The majority of its vineyards are scattered across Australia, but it also has an interest in the US, Italy, and New Zealand.

Wesfarmers Limited (ASX: WES.AX) is headquartered in Perth. They are a retail company, providing building materials and home improvement products. It also focuses on chemicals and fertilizers and has seen tremendous growth in recent months.

Aside from these companies are plenty of others focused on healthcare, technology, and mining. Australia is known for its exports of iron, gold, petroleum, coal, and aluminum.

How to Invest in the Australia Security Exchange

Ready to put some money into the Australian stock index? If you’re not an Australian, you can start with companies that have dual stock listings. Many Australian companies have their shares listed on both the ASX and on US stock exchanges.

Or you can purchase shares of an ETF in the US, like the Australian Dividend Harvester Fund ETF.

But if you’d prefer to have more control over your Australian investments, you’ll want to use a broker that allows you to buy from the ASX directly. Monex Securities is an Australian-based company that lets you do exactly that.

Not only can you use their brokerage to invest in the ASX, but you can also use it to invest in a dozen Asian markets as well, such as Japan or Indonesia. You can click here to get started on the ASX today.

Diversification Is Key

ASX stocks are among the top-performing in the world. There’s no reason not to add some of them to your portfolio, to diversify and strengthen your investments.

Looking to learn more about currency ASX stock prices? Want more investment tips and tricks? Then head over to our blog to find all the articles you need.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.

The Australian dollar declined against its US counterpart Wednesday despite stronger than forecast consumer confidence and home loans figures, as the markets shifted their attention to Thursday’s employment report.

The Aussie fell back toward 77 cents US on Wednesday after attempting a re-test of the 78-cent level in the overnight session. The AUD/USD consolidated at 0.7705, declining 0.86 percent. The pair faces initial support at 0.7690 and resistance at 0.7826.

In economic data, Australia home loans rose faster than forecast in December, raising concern the country’s housing market was overheating. Home loans increased 2.7 percent in December, following a 0.4 percent drop the previous month, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday.

The value of investor loans rose 6 percent to a record AUD $12.56 billion, well above the average monthly increase of 2.6 percent over the last six months.

On Tuesday Westpac said Australian consumer confidence rose briskly in February, as falling energy prices lifted optimism about family finances and the overall economy. The consumer confidence index rose 8 percent to 100.7, a 13-month high.

The ABS will release January employment data on Thursday. The Australian economy added 37,400 total jobs in December, following a gain of 45,000 in November, rounding out the strongest two-month period of job creation in eight years. Full-time employment soared by 41,600 in December, while the unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent.

Despite a more robust job market, the Reserve Bank of Australia last week cut interest rates for the first time in 18 months, setting the stage for another rate cut in the next several months. The central bank also lowered its 2015 growth and inflation forecasts and said unemployment will rise, underscoring the need for more accommodative monetary policy.

According to the revised forecast, the Australian economy will expand between 1.75 percent and 2.75 percent this year, down from the previous estimate of between 2 percent and 3 percent. Consumer inflation is forecast to slow to 1.25 percent in the year through June.

The RBA has long held that the Australian dollar is overvalued, giving policymakers plenty of scope to drive down interest rates. The AUD/USD has declined nearly 6 percent since the start of the year and is expected to fall below 75 cents in the short-term. According to BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, the Aussie will bottom out below 70 cents US in the first half of 2015.

Market Place

MKTPlace is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. MKTPlace offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, news about IoT, AI, Blockchain, Business, market analysis and education resources and guides.