Australian shares are here!Australian shares are here!

From today, you have access to thousands of companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). You have the opportunity to diversify your investments, invest in businesses that are close to your home and heart, and have your NZ, US, and Australian shares all in one beautiful place.

Thanks for joining us on the journey of creating the most financially empowered generation! We can’t wait for you to dive into the world of Australian shares—let us know what you think by emailing help@sharesies.co.nz. We love hearing from you!

Invest in businesses close to home and heart 💖

In addition to the NZ and US investments already available on Sharesies, you now have access to thousands of ASX-listed investments, including companies you’ll recognise like Afterpay, ANZ Bank, Woolworths, and Xero! You can also invest in ETFs from fund providers like BetaShares, Vanguard, iShares, and SPDR.

Keen to learn more about what you can invest in on the ASX? Check out our introduction to the ASX, or dig a little deeper with our blogs about:

• Dual-listed companies—companies that are listed on more than one exchange (e.g. listed on both the Australian Securities Exchange and the New Zealand Stock Exchange).

• Penny stock companies—‘small cap’ companies, and the risks of investing in them.

Get started with Australian shares 🍍

To start investing in Australian shares, sign up to Sharesies, or log in and:

1. Go to Invest > Search > Filter

2. Under Exchanges, select ASX.

When you invest in Australian shares, there are a few things you need to know:

• You’ll need to exchange NZ dollars into AU dollars to buy Australian shares. There’s a 0.4% exchange fee—read how currency exchange works. 

• The Sharesies transaction fee will apply to both ASX-listed companies and ETFs—see our fees.

• The ASX is open weekdays, except for Australian public holidays. You can place an order at any time, but it won’t go to market until the ASX opens. You can see exact trading hours for the week ahead by looking at an ASX-listed investment in Sharesies.  

• If you’re a New Zealand tax resident, we’ll pay tax on Australian dividends on your behalf. If your tax situation is more complicated (for example, if you’re a tax resident in another country), you may need to seek professional tax advice. Read more about tax.

• Some companies are dual listed, which means that they’re listed on both the ASX and another exchange—for example, the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX). In Sharesies, you’ll see which exchange a company is listed on under its name.

• The ability to transfer shares in and out of Sharesies isn’t currently available for ASX-listed investments—we’ll be looking to add it down the road.

• If you’re an NZX Prescribed Person, the same rules apply when buying or selling ASX-listed investments.

Want to know more? Check out our investment process for Australian companies and ETFs on Sharesies.

Register for Lunch Money—Australian shares edition! 🥪

We’re hosting two very special episodes of our Lunch Money webinar all about investing in the Australian share market! Register over on Crowdcast: 

• Intro to AU shares with Victoria Devine (She’s on the Money)—12:15 PM, Thursday 22 April 2021

• Deep-dive into the AU economy with Scott Phillips (Motley Fool AU)—12:15 PM, Thursday 29 April 2021

If you have any questions or feedback, get in touch at help@sharesies.co.nz. Happy investing!