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How to start investing and trading shares

Learn how to start investing and trading in shares and information on which shares to buy or invest in the share market.

Find out more about share trading

The share market explained

How To Invest In Shares For Beginners

A beginners guide to investing and trading shares and the share market explained.

ETFs explained

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are investment funds that hold a pool of assets such as shares, fixed interest investments and commodities.

Managed investments

Managed investments are generally known as pooled investments, where investors’ money is ‘pooled’ together and managed by investment experts.

The All Ordinaries index

The All Ordinaries (XAO) tracks the 500 largest companies listed on the ASX according to their market capitalisation. 

What is CHESS?

CHESS stands for Clearing House Electronic Subregister System and is used by the ASX to manage the settlement of share transactions.


Creating an Investment Strategy

How share trading works

There's more to share trading than buying and selling. Find out about the steps involved.

How important is diversification?

Diversification is a risk management strategy that aims to minimise the ups and downs of financial markets. 

Creating an investment strategy

It's important to have a clear, precise investment objective when thinking about investing in shares.


Borrowing to invest

Margin lending explained

Using a margin loan can be an effective way to build wealth.

How a margin loan works

A margin loan is a form of gearing that lets you borrow money to invest.

The power of gearing

Borrowing to invest using existing investments as security is called 'gearing'. 


SMSF Investors

What is risk appetite?

Risk is about tolerating the potential for losses. Understanding your risk appetite allows you to make well-informed decisions about your money.

How to determine asset allocation

When one asset classes rises, another will fall (and vice versa). While it’s not the perfect relationship, over time, this can help smooth out your portfolio’s returns – here’s how.

Open a Westpac Share Trading account online

Applying is simple, get started online today

Join now

Things you should know

Westpac Securities Limited ABN 39 087 924 221, AFSL 233723 (‘Westpac Securities’) (trading as ‘Westpac Share Trading’) provides the opportunity to trade listed financial products through our arrangement with Australian Investment Exchange Limited ABN 71 076 515 930, AFSL 241400 (‘AUSIEX’), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura Research Institute, Ltd (‘NRI’). AUSIEX is a Market Participant of the ASX Limited (‘ASX’) and Cboe Australia Pty Ltd (‘Cboe’), a Clearing Participant of ASX Clear Pty Limited and a Settlement Participant of ASX Settlement Pty Limited. Neither AUSIEX nor Westpac Securities are representatives of each other. Westpac Securities is not a related party of AUSIEX, NRI, ASX or Cboe. Under this arrangement, all trading, clearing, settlement and stock sponsorship arrangements are directly with AUSIEX. AUSIEX is not authorised to carry on business in any jurisdiction other than Australia. Accordingly, the information contained in this website is directed to and available for Australian residents only.

You should read the Westpac Securities and AUSIEX Financial Services Guides (“FSGs”), which provide you with information on the services Westpac Securities and AUSIEX can provide. You can access the FSGs via https://westpac.com.au/personal-banking/share-trading.

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 AUSIEX, accepts responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of, or endorses any such material. This website may also contain links to external websites. Westpac does not accept responsibility for, or endorse the content of, such external websites. Except where contrary to law, Westpac intends by this notice to exclude liability for material provided directly by third parties and the content of external websites.

Neither Westpac nor any other company in the Westpac Group nor any of their directors, employees and associates nor AUSIEX, guarantees the security of this website, gives any warranty of reliability or accuracy nor accepts any responsibility arising in any other way including by reason of negligence for, errors in, or omissions from, the information on this website and does not accept any liability for any loss or damage, however caused, as a result of any person relying on any information on the website or being unable to access this website. This disclaimer is subject to any applicable contrary provisions of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act and Competition and Consumer Act.

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.

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.

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.

The information on this website does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. For this reason, before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate to you, having regards to your objectives, financial situation and needs and, if necessary, seek appropriate financial advice.

Westpac Securities is a wholly owned subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714 (‘Westpac’) and part of the Westpac Group. A financial product acquired through Westpac Securities is not a deposit with, or any liability of Westpac or any other company in the Westpac Group. Investment in a financial product is subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment or loss of income and principal invested. Neither Westpac nor any of its related entities stands behind or otherwise guarantees the capital value or investment performance of any financial product acquired through Westpac Securities.

 

© Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141, AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714.

The Westpac Group, 275 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, AUSTRALIA