The BetaShares FTSE 100 ETF (F100 AU) has commenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Alex Vynokur, Chief Executive Officer, BetaShares.

The fund is Australia’s first ETF to track the FTSE 100, the UK’s pre-eminent blue-chip equity index.

Owned and calculated by FTSE Russell, the FTSE 100, or footsie as it is known, represents the performance of 100 of the largest firms listed on the London Stock Exchange, weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization.

Index constituents represent around 80% of the UK’s total listed market cap.

Evan Ong, Managing Director ETP Relationships, Asia, FTSE Russell, said, “We are delighted that BetaShares has licensed the flagship FTSE 100 Index, the main indicator for the performance of companies listed on London Stock Exchange.

“FTSE Russell is a leading provider of indexes used by ETF issuers around the world and this new fund will enable, for the first time, Australian investors to have direct access to the UK equity market.”

Alex Vynokur, Chief Executive Officer of BetaShares added, “We’re very pleased to have launched the first UK-oriented ETF available on the ASX, which will give investors the ability to specifically allocate UK stocks into their portfolios.

“As the ETF industry in Australia has matured we are seeing increasing demand for targeted exposures such as country-specific ETFs like this one. Australia has a natural connection and affinity with the UK and as such we expect the ETF to receive strong interest from Australian investors.”

The BetaShares FTSE 100 ETF comes with an expense ratio of 0.45%.