Australia bucks fossil fuel exclusion trend


Global indices which exclude fossil fuels have outperformed those which include them but this is not the case for Australia.
According to FE Analytics, the MSCI World index returned 110% and the MSCI ACWI returned 109% since inception of the indices on 15 March 2016 to 29 June, 2021, while their ex-fossil fuel counterparts had performed better with returns of 115% and 113% respectively.
However, this was not the case for Australia where the MSCI Australia index returned 74% while its ex-fossil fuel counterpart had returned 65%. It also applied to coal with the MSCI Australia ex Coal index returning 62% over the same period.
The difference was smaller over one year, however, with all three sectors returning 29%.
Looking at the stock exchange, the ASX 200 returned 75% over the same period but the ASX 200 Resources sector returned 164% thanks to the performance of major ASX stocks such as Woodside Petroleum, Oil Search, Santos, and Whitehaven Coal.
The best performer of these stocks was Whitehaven Coal which returned 265% followed by Santos which returned 95%.
Recommended for you
Selfwealth has provided an update on the status of its scheme implementation deed with Bell Financial Group as well as whether rival bidder Svava remains in the picture.
Magellan Financial Group has reported its first half FY25 results while appointing a new chief financial officer and promoting Sophia Rahmani to chief executive.
Schroders Australia has launched two active ETFs and plans to further expand its listed range over the year ahead.
Platform Netwealth has reported its financial results for the first half of FY25, reporting an 80 per cent increase in net flows, with its CEO viewing a “huge opportunity” from private assets.