Australian shares
Australian shares are one of the most popular asset classes. When you buy shares – also referred to as ‘equities’ or ‘stocks’ – you are buying a portion of a company. As part owner, you can be entitled to participate in shareholders’ voting and receive dividends paid by the company.
When a company is publicly listed on a share market – also referred to as a ‘stock exchange’ – its shares can be traded through brokers such as Westpac Share Trading. The value of the shares depends on several factors, but one of the most significant is how much money the company earns or is expected to earn in the future.
Key features of a share market
The share market is a transparent and regulated marketplace through which shares in public companies are bought and sold. In Australia, two of the main exchanges are the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Cboe Australia, which are both accessible through Westpac Share Trading.
Once you own shares in a particular company, you can sell them to other investors in the share market.
Getting started
You don’t need a lot of money to get started – for example, the minimum trade on Westpac Share Trading is $500 – and trading shares can give you flexibility and control through direct ownership.
Westpac Share Trading can make buying and selling shares easy and straightforward. You can visit our platform features webpage to see how easy it is to trade with Westpac Share Trading.
Things you should know
This website is directed to and for the benefit of Australian residents who are located in Australia only. Share trading through this website is a service provided through Westpac Securities Limited ABN 39 087 924 221 AFSL 233723 by Australian Investment Exchange Ltd ABN 71 076 515 930 AFSL 241400 ("the Participant"), a market Participant of the Australian Securities Exchange Limited (ASX) and Cboe Australia, a clearing participant of ASX Clear Pty Limited and a settlement participant of ASX Settlement Pty Limited.
The information on this website has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, you should consider its appropriateness, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice. If a Product Disclosure Statement is available in relation to a particular financial product, you should obtain and consider that Product Disclosure Statement before making any decisions about whether to acquire the financial product. The information contained on this website does not constitute the provision of advice or constitute or form part of any offer, solicitation or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities or other financial product nor shall it form part of it or form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. Any securities or prices used in the examples on this website are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This website may contain material provided directly by third parties. This information is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate at its issue date. While such material is published with necessary permission, no company in the Westpac Group nor any of their related entities, employees or directors (together, “Westpac”), nor the Participant, accepts responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of, or endorses any such material. This website may also contain links to external websites. Westpac and the Participant do not accept responsibility for, or endorse the content of, such external websites. Except where contrary to law, Westpac and the Participant intend by this notice to exclude liability for material provided directly by third parties and the content of external websites.